TREASURY

Child Benefit

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of child benefit for the first child was in real terms in each of the last 30 years.

Nicky Morgan: The information to answer this question is publicly available.
	Child Benefit Rates for 1977-99 (Table 1):
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmselect/cmsocsec/114/11404.htm#note12#note12
	Child Benefit Rates for 1992-2013 (Appendix B):
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/286670/Child_Benefit_statistics_geographical_analysis_August_2013.xls
	Consumer Prices Indices:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl= Consumer+Price+Indices
	Child benefit is uprated by CPI unless there is a policy decision otherwise. In 2010 Government took the decision that CPI was the most suitable measure of inflation and switched from using the RPI to CPI for the uprating of benefits. This change came in to effect from 2011.

Credit Unions

John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who use credit unions in (a) Glasgow North West constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK.

Sajid Javid: The Government does not hold information on number of credit unions members. The data is held by the regulatory authorities—the Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority.

Credit: Interest Rates

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority regarding fees charged by payday lenders.

Sajid Javid: Government Ministers and officials meet with a wide range of organisations as part of the usual policy making process.
	The Government has legislated to require the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to introduce a cap on the cost of payday loans. The FCA will design a cap to include the fees and charges which may be incurred in relation to a payday loan, including default fees and charges and rollover fees.
	The FCA has also recently committed that it will consider carrying out a thematic review of market practice in relation to fees and charges across the consumer credit market, once it assumes regulatory responsibility for consumer credit on 1 April 2014.

Export Duties: Arts

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the potential benefit of introducing export duty exemptions for creative media companies.

David Gauke: There are currently no export duties payable on goods exported from the UK.
	However, with regard to corporate tax, there are three specific tax reliefs available to the creative industries. These are: film tax relief; animation tax relief; and high-end television tax relief. A fourth corporate relief for video games will be introduced following state aid approval.

Exports

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies export products from the UK; and how much such firms contribute annually to the Exchequer in (a) corporation tax and (b) export duty.

David Gauke: The number of companies that exported products from the UK in 2012 was 145,7081.
	An estimate of the total amount of corporation tax paid by exporting companies could be provided only at disproportionate cost. This is because there is no reliable source linking trade in goods data with corporation tax data, and it would involve considerable effort to identify and match the relevant data.
	There are currently no export duties on goods exported from the UK.
	1Source:
	UK Trade in Goods by Business Characteristics, HM Revenue and Customs

Financial Services

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representatives of commercial debt management firms were formally met by officials of the Financial Conduct Authority between October and December 2013.

Sajid Javid: This question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to the hon. Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Income Tax: National Insurance

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on merging income tax and national insurance.

David Gauke: The Government undertook detailed consultative work with a range of external stakeholders in 2011 and 2012 regarding the operational integration of income tax and national insurance.
	Autumn Statement 2012 announced that the Government would wait until existing planned changes to the personal tax system, such as Real Time Information, were further established before proceeding with additional external consultation.

Minimum Wage: Yorkshire and the Humber

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fines have been issued to employers in (a) Leeds North West constituency, (b) West Yorkshire, (c) Yorkshire and the Humber for not paying the national minimum wage since March 2013; and what the total value of fines is in each such area.

David Gauke: The Government takes the enforcement of NMW very seriously and HMRC enforce the national minimum wage legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and has done so since the introduction of NMW in April 1999. It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.
	HMRC does not capture complaints or the outcomes of its investigations by reference to Government regions, constituencies or county. Its management information relates to the work of teams who are multi-located. Additionally, because it resources to risk, work relating to a specific geographical area is not always done by the NMW team based in that area.
	Prior to 6 April 2009, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issued penalty notices to those employers who failed to comply, within 28 days, with an enforcement notice. A new enforcement regime, introduced m April 2009, saw the introduction of automatic penalties for employers who are found to have underpaid their workers. Between 1 April 2013 and 28 February 2104, HMRC has issued 561 penalties for non payment of national minimum wage, with a combined value of £671,524.

Money Laundering: EU Law

Gerry Sutcliffe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will press for amendments allowing national governments discretion to exempt low risk industries from the provisions of the fourth EU anti-money laundering directive; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The aim of the fourth money laundering directive is to update EU member states' anti money laundering and counter terrorist financing regimes to reflect the revised global standards agreed through the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), as well as the European Commission's review of the implementation of the third directive.
	The new FATF standards embed a risk-based approach to ensure that measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing risks are proportionate and effective. The Government continues to work to ensure that this principle is applied, so EU member states are able to exempt sectors identified as low-risk from certain provisions of the new directive.

Non-domestic Rates: Dartford

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many small businesses in Dartford will benefit from the extension of the small business rate relief scheme to March 2015.

David Gauke: No estimate has been made by the Treasury of the number of small businesses in Dartford that will benefit from the extension of the small business rate relief (SBRR) scheme which was announced at autumn statement 2013.
	The Government estimates that around 540,000 small businesses in England will benefit from the extension of the SBRR and that around 74,000 of these small businesses will be in the south-east.

Proceeds of Crime: Ukraine

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to prevent money from Ukraine derived from illegal sources entering the British financial system.

Sajid Javid: The current situation in Ukraine is of deep concern across Government. The UK is committed to providing technical advice to the Ukrainian authorities with respect to identifying, confiscating and returning improperly acquired assets and is pushing for the immediate imposition of asset freezing measures across the EU in support of this.
	The Government's approach to anti-money laundering is designed to make the UK financial system a hostile environment for money laundering.
	The Treasury has contacted anti-money laundering supervisors highlighting the role that robust beneficial ownership checks by firms can play in preventing the facilitation of corrupt asset flight. The Treasury has suggested that supervisors emphasise the increased risk in relation to Ukraine to their firms and remind them of the need to have appropriate systems and controls for due diligence, ongoing monitoring and reporting of suspicious transactions, including PEP and beneficial ownership checks.
	The Treasury welcomes the Financial Conduct Authority's decision to issue a notice to financial institutions following recent developments in the country. The notice reminds firms of their legal obligations under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. It also notes that developments in Ukraine highlight the continuing need for vigilance and robust systems and controls in dealing with actual or potential politically exposed persons (PEPs).

Research: Finance

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Analysis Paper No. 3, Insights from international benchmarking of the UK science and innovation system, published in January 2014, paragraph 6, whether he is considering proposing targets for increasing public and private research and development spending to meet the 2.9% average of the UK's competitors.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	BIS Analysis Paper Number 3 reviews the UK's performance against relevant comparator countries on a range of science and innovation indicators. The evidence shows that the UK's total investment in R&D has been relatively static at around 1.8% of GDP, whereas comparator countries spend on average 2.9% of GDP. It doesn't suggest that setting a 2.9% R&D target is the best approach to increase our performance.
	The Government is preparing a Science and Innovation Strategy for autumn statement 2014. Through consultation, we will take views on how to deliver the research and innovation infrastructure needed to ensure that the UK's capabilities remain world-leading, playing a key role in economic growth and scientific excellence.

VAT

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason he decided not to charge VAT on the sale of cryptocurrencies.

David Gauke: Although they have a number of unique characteristics, cryptocurrencies could be used as a speculative investment or in place of a currency in certain circumstances. The VAT treatment that has been applied to them is therefore consistent with the VAT treatment for financial products of this sort, which ensures that different instruments being used for the same purpose will receive the same VAT treatment. It is clearly stated in the HMRC brief that the treatment is subject to further EU or regulatory developments.

Video Games: Tax Allowances

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken with the UK video gaming industry to supply the relevant information to the European Commission on tax breaks for the industry.

David Gauke: The Government remains committed to introducing video games tax relief as soon as possible. As part of its investigation, the Commission has asked for more evidence on the UK video games sector. The Government responded to this request as quickly and fully as possible, with support from the industry.
	The investigation remains confidential and the Government is not able to provide any more detail at this stage.

Working Tax Credit

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people changing from a single working tax credit claim to a joint claim have had to submit a fresh application in each of the last five years; what the average back-dated payment was to such an applicant in each such year; and what average time was taken for the joint claim to be paid in each such year.

Nicky Morgan: This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

EDUCATION

Academies

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the total value of all land owned by schools where title deeds have been transferred from local authorities to academies.

Edward Timpson: The value of academy trusts' land in the Department's consolidated accounts for financial year 2012-13 is £5.718 billion. The Department based this figure on a valuation commissioned to prepare its accounts. The valuation takes no account of how academy trusts have valued land in their own accounts or whether the academy trusts have title to the land. The Department instead values land that academy trusts own or have the sole long-term use of. We cannot therefore estimate the value of land where local authorities have transferred title to academy trusts.

Academies: Dudley

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the financial consequences are of moving to academy status for schools in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley.

Edward Timpson: Becoming an academy brings a number of benefits, including more control over how schools can use their funding.
	Academies and local authority maintained schools receive comparable funding. The main difference is that as an academy, all the funding intended for schools passes directly to them rather than a proportion being held back by the local authority. Academies receive an Education Services Grant to cover the cost of services that local authorities provide to maintained schools.
	Schools also receive start-up grants to help with costs of becoming an academy, such as legal fees, which have to be paid prior to the point of opening.

All Party Physical Activity Commission

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish his Department's evidence to the All Party Commission on Physical Activity.

Edward Timpson: ‘Moving More, Living More'—a cross-Government strategy to promote physical activity—was launched on 13 February 2014. A copy of the strategy has been sent to the All Party Commission on behalf of the Government as evidence of its commitment to physical activity. A copy of this document will be placed in the Library.

Care Proceedings

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which local authorities offer Family Group Conferences to families undergoing care proceedings.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education does not hold this information centrally.
	The Government recognises the importance of Family Group Conferences as good practice in pre-proceedings and is currently funding the Family Rights Group to develop an accreditation framework to increase quality and consistency of provision and to increase the use of them at pre-proceedings stages.

Children: Day Care

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what services and support his Department plans to provide to families who will be ineligible for the Government's new childcare scheme;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to support low-income families to access affordable and quality childcare and to ensure that no children miss out on the early stages of education.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government is taking comprehensive action to improve the affordability, availability and quality of child care and early education. Low income families can claim up to 70% of their child care costs through working tax credit. Budget 2013 announced that an additional £200 million would be allocated to childcare support through universal credit (UC) from 2016. Child care support under UC will be extended for the first time to those working fewer than 16 hours, enabling parents to take the first steps into work.
	In addition to this, the new tax-free child care scheme will cover 20%-equivalent to the basic rate of tax-of working families' child care costs up to a limit of £6,000 per year per child. This will be available to families who are not already eligible to claim up to 70% of their child care costs through working tax credit.
	All three- and four-year-olds are entitled to a funded early education place. In September 2010, we increased the number of hours for which children are eligible to 15 hours. Additionally, since 1 September 2013, local authorities have been under a statutory duty to secure a free nursery place for any eligible two-year-old. By October 2013, local authorities reported that around 92,000 two-year-olds were already accessing a place-70% of the way towards the 130,000 places planned for the first year. From September 2014, this entitlement will be extended to include those low income working families, reaching around 40% of all two-year-olds in England.
	The Government is also putting in place a number of measures to support the development of accessible, affordable high quality childcare provision across the country, including:
	1. creating new child minder agencies;
	2. making it easier for schools to take two-year-olds and to offer out-of-school-hours facilities;
	3. simplifying the regulatory framework and planning rules so nurseries can expand more easily; and
	4. improving the funding system to increase consistency across local authorities and maximise the funding that reaches the frontline.

Children: Literacy

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of 11 year olds in England are not deemed to have the required level of literacy.

David Laws: For pupils aged 11 at the end of key stage 2 in the 2012-13 academic year, 14% did not achieve level 4 or above in reading, 26% did not achieve level 4 or above in grammar, punctuation and spelling and 17% did not achieve level 4 or above in writing teacher assessments.
	More detail can be found in table 2 of the statistical first release ‘National curriculum assessments at key stage 2 in England: academic year 2012 to 2013’:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-assessments-at-key-stage-2-2012-to-2013

Children: Social Services

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 211W, on Children's Social Services, how many local authorities have stopped using the Integrated Children's System since 2006.

Edward Timpson: The Government does not collect information on the IT systems used by local authorities. It is the responsibility of local authorities to determine how ICT systems can be best used to support the delivery of social care services.

Children’s Centres

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which children's centres offer (a) antenatal appointments, (b) birth registration and (c) parenting classes.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education does not hold information about which children's centres offer (a) antenatal appointments, (b) birth registration and (c) parenting classes.
	The core purpose of children's centres is to improve outcomes for young children and their families and reduce inequalities between families in greatest need and their peers. Within this core purpose, local authorities have flexibility to design and develop the services that are right for their own communities.

Children’s Centres

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many children's centres have closed since May 2010;
	(2)  how many children's centres which moved outside of local authority control are still in operation under a new legal structure, such as a charity or co-operative, since 2010;
	(3)  how many children's centres are currently (a) run by private sector companies and (b) consulting on proposals to be run by private sector companies.

Elizabeth Truss: As of 30 November 2013, 3,055 local authority designated children's centres were open. There were a further 501 sites which were designated as children's centres in April 2010 that remain open and offering services to families and children as part of a network of children’s centres. Information from local authorities shows that 65 centres have closed since April 2010. Six new centres have opened.
	The Department for Education does not collect the number of children's centres that have moved outside of local authority control which are still in operation under a new legal structure, such as a charity or co-operative.
	It does not hold information on the number of children's centres that are currently (a) run by private sector companies and (b) consulting on proposals to be run by private sector companies.

Children’s Centres

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funds were ringfenced for children's centres in 2010.

Elizabeth Truss: Information on the funding for children's centres in 2010-11 is available at:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.Uk/20130903173913/http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/earlylearningandchildcare/delivery/funding/a0071955/lagrant
	The 2010-11 Memorandum of Grant for the Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Grant and Aiming High for Disabled Children Grant is also available from this link. This Memorandum contains full information on the grant, including details of ring-fencing arrangements.

Children’s Centres

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funds other than funding for disadvantaged two year olds are ringfenced for children's centres in the current financial year.

Elizabeth Truss: The Early Intervention Grant was established in April 2011 to give local authorities the freedom to make decisions on how best to target resources on supporting early intervention and other valuable services to meet the needs of their communities. The Early Intervention Grant transferred into the new Business Rates Retention system of local government finance in 2013-14. It is non-ringfenced and unhypothecated so that local authorities retain the flexibility to make the most effective use of funding available.
	£533 million is being provided to local authorities to deliver early education for two-year-olds this year, rising to £755 million next year.

Education: Qualifications

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will introduce universal qualifications for functional skills to better allow employers to understand an individual's competencies.

Matthew Hancock: As part of the new study programmes, all young people who have not yet achieved a grade C or above in English and/or mathematics at GCSE must continue to study these subjects post-16, whether they are enrolled with a school, college or work-based learning provider, or doing a traineeship.
	This requirement will be enforced by making it a condition of 16-19 funding from September 2014. Providers will be funded per student and so providers will lose funding if they do not offer teaching in English and/or mathematics to students without GCSEs (A*-C) in these subjects.
	Students whose initial assessment shows they are not ready to re-take GCSEs may take one of the interim qualifications as a stepping stone to GCSE, which can include functional skills and free-standing mathematics qualifications recognised by the funding condition.

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2014, Official Report, column 817W, on equality, what his Department's total expenditure on equality and diversity was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2013-14; and what the cost of the full-time equivalent officials who advised on quality and diversity was in each year since 2008-09.

Elizabeth Truss: We are unable to provide a total expenditure figure for equality and diversity in 2008-09 due to changes in the Department's financial management system. Expenditure in the 2009-10 was £327,280 and to date in 2013-14 is £98,997.
	We are unable to provide costs of the full-time equivalent officials who have advised on equality and diversity since 2008-09 as we do not hold historical data on the individuals and their grades. In 2009-10 there were five full-time equivalent officials supporting equality and diversity compared with the current 1.2 full-time equivalent officials at an annual cost of £44,965.

Female Genital Mutilation

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that schools have policies in place to (a) help to identify girls who have undergone female genital mutilation and (b) refer them to appropriate support;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that teachers receive adequate training in recognising children at risk of female genital mutilation; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), set out our intentions in a statement on 25 February following a meeting with campaigners earlier that day. This statement has been published and is available online at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/news/michael-gove-guidance-for-schools-on-female-genital-mutilation
	Any member of staff in a school who has concerns that a child may be suffering, or be likely to suffer, significant harm has a responsibility to take appropriate action, working with other services as needed.
	All staff members should receive appropriate child protection training which is regularly updated to enable them to discharge that responsibility. School governing bodies and proprietors must ensure that the policies, procedures and training in their schools or colleges are effective and comply with relevant legislation.

Harperbury Free School

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on Harperbury Free School.

Edward Timpson: Officials from the Department for Education have had many discussions with their colleagues in the Department of Health on Harperbury free school. They continue to work together to establish whether the site owned by the Department of Health demonstrates value for money for the taxpayer if it is developed for the free school.
	In addition, my noble Friend Lord Nash, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, has recently discussed the matter with my noble Friend Earl Howe, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality.

Internet

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what services his Department provides that are (a) available online only and (b) planned to move to online only.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education does not have any publically facing digital services which are online only, nor does it plan to do so.
	Although it is the aim to make Government services digital by default, the Government also recognises that not everyone who uses these services is online, so digital support will continue to be available to those users that need it.

Ofsted

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects the Ofsted Data Dashboard to be updated with the 2013 results.

David Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his response has been placed in the House Library.

Regulation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many draft regulations were raised by his Department in each of the last five years; and how many such regulations (a) were and (b) were not consulted upon.

Elizabeth Truss: The following table shows the number of statutory instruments (Sis), both regulations and orders, laid in draft by the Department for Education and subject to the approval of Parliament before they were made in each of the last five calendar years. Those numbers have been taken from the records held by the Legal Adviser's Office.
	Although we believe that these records are reasonably accurate, we cannot confirm this. The last column shows how many of those instruments were the subject of a consultation through the Department's external website.
	
		
			  Sis laid in draft Sis consulted upon 
			 2009 4 1 
			 2010 3 0 
			 2011 1 0 
			 2012 5 3 
			 2013 4 0

Schools: Standards

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make employability and employment outcomes key measures of accountability for schools.

David Laws: I announced in October 2013 that we would like to include destination measures as a headline measure for secondary school accountability. This will show the percentage of pupils who went on to sustained education, employment or training during the year after they finished their key stage 4 qualifications.
	We currently publish experimental statistics to show this information. The data can be found here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-destinations
	We are continuing developmental work on these experimental statistics and once we are clear that they are robust, we will use the destination measures data as headline indicators in key stage 4 and key stage 5 performance tables.

Students: Finance

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to his answer of 13 February 2014, Official Report, column 825W, on students: finance, for what reason his Department has not compared the number of 18-year-olds affected by changes in funding for full-time education with the 16 to 18 cohort in full-time education.

Matthew Hancock: The impact assessment published on 13 January looked at the impact of the funding reduction for 18-year-olds based primarily on data from the 2012-13 Individualised Learner Record. While this contains data about 16 to 18-year-olds enrolled at colleges, it does not include 16 to 18-year-olds studying in schools. Only around 15% of 18-year-olds funded by the Department for Education are enrolled in schools. Data for a number of the variables covered in the impact assessment are not available from the schools census, which is why we excluded school data from various parts of the analysis.

Teachers: Training

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the (a) number, (b) ethnicity, (c) gender and (d) age was of trainees recruited to each provider's Initial Teacher Training undergraduate primary programmes in the (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14 academic years.

David Laws: Provider-level data for 2012-13 and 2013-14 will be published in the initial teacher training performance profiles in September 2014 and September 2015 respectively. The published data report numbers of undergraduate trainees at each provider, but do not identify the characteristics of undergraduate trainees separately. The latest published data can be found here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-performance-profiles-2013-management-data

Teachers: Training

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the (a) number, (b) ethnicity, (c) gender and (d) age of trainees recruited to each of School Direct, Schools Direct (salaried), Higher Education Provider and Teach First was in the (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14 academic years.

David Laws: Provider-level data for 2012-13 and 2013-14 will be published in the initial teacher training performance profiles in September 2014 and September 2015 respectively. The published data report numbers of trainees and their characteristics at each higher education institution and identifies trainees on Teach First programmes separately. The 2014 and 2015 publications will also include comparable data about School Direct.
	The latest published data can be found here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-performance-profiles-2013-management-data

Teachers: Training

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what account he plans to take of (a) the future viability of higher education Initial Teacher Training (ITT) provision in London, (b) the costs and risks of Ofsted inspections of ITT, (c) the effect on regional supply and demand, (d) the effect on the subject knowledge enhancement programmes provided by universities, (e) the effect on the capacity of universities to provide support for school and college improvement, (f) continuous professional development and the administration of ITT, (g) student access to learning resources, libraries and services such as counselling and (h) demand from ITT students for academic qualifications when making 2015-16 ITT allocations; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: As we have for previous years, we will consider a range of factors in the allocation of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) places for the 2015/16 academic year. However, it is too early in the process to confirm exactly which factors can and cannot be taken into account.
	This summer we will publish information on the range of factors that we will consider in the allocation of places. This information will help schools and ITT providers as they request and plan the delivery of places.

World War I: Education

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what teaching resources are being provided to schools to help engage students in the centenary of the First World War; and who is responsible for the co-ordination of such resources.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education and Department for Communities and Local Government are jointly funding the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme. This is led by the Institute of Education (IOE), the principal co-ordinator of educational resources for schools for the First World War centenary. Through a dedicated website and Battlefield Tours Programme, leading educational experts from the IOE are creating and sharing teaching ideas and resources on a wide range of topics surrounding the war and these will continue to develop and expand in their range and depth over the next five years. A number of other key organisations are also producing resources to commemorate the centenary.
	When teaching about the First World War it is up to schools and teachers to decide what resources they use.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Internet

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what services her Department provides that are (a) available online only and (b) planned to move to online only.

Theresa Villiers: My Department does not provide any online services nor do we have any plans to do so.

Terrorism

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  pursuant to her written statement of 25 February 2014, Official Report, columns 16-18WS, on High Court judgment, what the current status is of the 187 administrative letters sent to on-the-runs; whether the letters have been rescinded; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  whether the IRA members suspected of the murder of Chief Superintendant Breen and Superintendent Buchanan in March 1989 are amongst the 187 on-the-runs who received so-called comfort or administrative letters; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: On 27 February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme for dealing with so called “on-the-runs” established by the previous Government. This will include a factual check of all letters issued. I expect the report to be provided to me by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.

Terrorism

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the judgment in the case of John Downey, whether she plans to correct the answer of 10 January 2011 given by the right hon. Member for North Shropshire to the hon. Member for North Down, Official Report, column 46W, on on-the-runs; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: At the time of this parliamentary question (January 2010) the general issue of "on-the-runs" had been raised with my predecessor on a number of occasions during the course of regular meetings.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Apprentices

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to encourage under-19 school leavers to start apprenticeships.

Esther McVey: The Department offers a comprehensive menu of tailored support to encourage under 19-year-olds, including school leavers, to start apprenticeships.
	Jobcentre Work Coaches discuss opportunities available at fortnightly job search reviews, advising young people to register on the National Apprenticeship Service vacancy site, in order to apply for apprenticeship vacancies. Work Coaches also offer an interview with a National Careers Service adviser who can refer young people to a sector based work academy or Traineeship opportunity, both of which can lead to an apprenticeship job.
	In addition to this the Department's local and national Partnership Managers also promote apprenticeships to employers as part of the menu of services available to help with their recruitment needs.

Attendance Allowance

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2014, Official Report, column 675W, on attendance allowance, what steps officials in his Department take to ascertain that claimants already in receipt of attendance allowance are still eligible for that benefit once they have moved into residential care.

Michael Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 26 February 2014, Official Report, column 371W.

Credit Unions

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the growth of credit union membership since the award of the Credit Union Expansion Project contract to the Association of British Credit Unions in April 2013.

Steve Webb: Figures from the Prudential Regulation Authority show that over 1 million people are adult members of credit unions.
	The DWP Credit Union Expansion Project contract began in May 2013. We are taking steps to help build the capacity and capability of the sector, by developing and introducing to credit unions an automated decision-making tool, encouraging participating credit unions to review the services and products they offer, and enhance their business processes. Once these measures are embedded and credit unions are ready to cope with increasing membership numbers we will step up the marketing and recruitment phases of the Project.
	While taking these early steps the overall membership of participating credit unions has increased by 34,295.
	The Project is more than increasing credit union membership; it is about taking the right steps to ensure a sustainable future for the sector.

Employment and Support Allowance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2013, Official Report, column 669W, on employment and support allowance, what medical conditions have been diagnosed in each person transferred from incapacity benefit to jobseeker's allowance after having been seen by an assessor; and how many such people have been diagnosed with each such condition.

Esther McVey: I refer the right hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 11 February 2014, Official Report, columns 583W.

Employment Services

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing a jobseeker classification instrument.

Esther McVey: DWP has not estimated the cost of implementing any such tool.
	The JSCI tool piloted in the Department identified 32% of those people who ended up as long-term unemployed. This means that for every individual who is correctly identified and given additional help to get into work, we would also be helping two individuals who would not become long-term unemployed.
	Because the JSCI tool did not match claimants to the types of intervention that may help reduce their risk of becoming long-term unemployed, this could be fully explored only by an operational trial of a segmentation approach.
	Any assessment about the potential cost of a segmentation model would need to include the relative effectiveness and costs of interventions alongside the costs of administering the tool.

Housing Benefit

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will review the method used by the Valuation Office Agency to calculate the shared accommodation rate so that those with a specific need receive the help to which they are entitled.

Esther McVey: The Rent Services in England, Scotland and Wales are responsible for determining the annual LHA rates (including the Shared Accommodation Rates), in accordance with the legislation which lays down the appropriate uprating method.

Housing Benefit: Disability

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to encourage local authorities to make longer term awards of discretionary housing payments for those people with disabilities.

Steve Webb: As announced in the autumn statement discretionary housing payment (DHP) funding will actually be increased by £40 million in 2014-15 to £165 million. The increase in DHP for 2014-15 is relative to the previously announced Government allocation for 2014-15 of £125 million.
	This gives local authorities the confidence they need to make longer-term awards for people with on-going needs.
	DWP provides local authorities (LAs) with a guidance manual regarding DHPs, along with a good practice guide which offers advice on how DHPs can be used to provide support to claimants affected by some of the key welfare reforms. The guidance is clear that LAs can consider making long term or indefinite awards for disabled people. Guidance for 2014-15 is currently being reviewed and will continue to highlight this.
	This information for 2013-14 can be accessed through the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/233096/discretionary-housing-payments-guide.pdf

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the use of discretionary housing payment to deal with people affected by the under-occupancy penalty over the next two financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The Department has commissioned an independent two year evaluation to monitor the effects of the removal of the spare room subsidy, including the use of discretionary housing payments. The final report will be published in 2015.
	In addition the Department is collating and publishing information about the use of discretionary housing payments by local authorities in Great Britain twice yearly. The information covering the period April 2013 to September 2013 was published on 20 December 2013 and can be accessed at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/use-of-discretionary-housing-payments

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much in discretionary housing payments has been allocated in (a) England and (b) Birmingham for those affected by the under-occupancy penalty in (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16.

Esther McVey: The information is as follows:
	(a) Please find below, a table detailing the allocations for England. The figures for 2015-16 will be decided in due course.
	
		
			 Relevant year Total DHP allocation for RSRS in England (£) 
			 2013-14 25,950,209 
			 2014-15 46,053,525 
			 2015-16 1- 
			 1 TBD 
		
	
	(b) Please find below, a table detailing DHP allocations for Birmingham in relation to the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy, including the total allocations for the respective years. The figures for 2015-16 will be decided in due course.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Relevant year DHP allocation for RSRS-Birmingham Total DHP allocation for Birmingham 
			 2013-14 789,887 3,770,701 
			 2014-15 1,414,303 4,146,726 
			 2015-16 1- 1- 
			 1 TBD 
		
	
	In 2013-14 the Government contribution to discretionary housing payments was increased to £180 million in Great Britain (GB). While local authorities are able to use all of the funding as they decide in line with local priorities, £55 million was specifically allocated on the basis of the estimated impacts of the Removal of the spare room subsidy. This includes £20 million that local authorities are able to bid for should they need more funding.
	In 2014-15 the Government will continue to support those affected by the removal of the spare room subsidy. Out of a total Government contribution for discretionary housing payments of £165 million in GB, £60 million has been specifically allocated on the basis of the impacts of the policy.

Internet

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what services his Department provides that are (a) available online only and (b) planned to move to online only.

Esther McVey: We do not provide any service that is purely online. All our online services have the provision of alternative channels to support vulnerable customers and those without the skills or access to them.

Lone Parents

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of children in each income decile and of each ethnicity live in lone parent households.

Esther McVey: Figures are drawn from the Households Below Average Income and Family Resources Survey annual reports and have been provided on a three year average covering 2009-10 to 2011-12 to overcome sample volatility.
	For the analysis lone parents have been identified at the family level rather than the household. Families (or benefit units) are defined as a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children. A household is a single person or group of people living at the same address as their only or main residence, who either share one meal a day together, or share the living accommodation (i.e. the living room). A household will consist of one or more families. As a result, families are a more suitable level for identifying children with lone parents.
	
		
			 Table 1: Population and percentage of children in lone parent families by net disposable household income decile, Before Housing Costs, three year average 2009-10 to 2011-12, UK 
			 Decile (three-year average) Population of children (million) Percentage of children in lone parent families 
			 Decile 1 0.3 26 
			 Decile 2 0.6 38 
			 Decile 3 0.6 35 
			 Decile 4 0.5 31 
			 Decile 5 0.3 25 
			 Decile 6 0.3 19 
			 Decile 7 0.1 .13 
			 Decile 8 0.1 10 
			 Decile 9 0.1 7 
			 Decile 10 — 4 
			    
			 All 3.0 23 
			 Source: HBAI 2009-10 to 2011-12 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Population and percentage of children in lone parent families by ethnicity, three year average 2009-10 to 2011-12, UK 
			 Ethnic group of head of household (three-year average) Population of children (million) Percentage of children in lone parent families 
			 White 2.6 23 
			 Mixed/multiple ethnic groups 0.1 34 
			 Asian/Asian British 0.1 12 
			 Indian 1— 8 
			 Pakistani 0.1 16 
			 Bangladeshi 1— 12 
			 Chinese 2— 2— 
			 Any other Asian background 1— 12 
			 Black/African/Caribbean/Black British 0.2 42 
			 Other ethnic group 1— 19 
			    
			 All 3.0 23 
			 1 Indicates the figure is less than 50,000 children. 2 Indicates the figures are not available due to small sample sizes (less than 100). Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the 2011-12 Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. Net disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 3. Families (or benefit units) are defined as a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children, including same sex couples (civil partnerships and cohabitees) from January 2006. 4. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 5. Populations have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 children and percentages to the nearest whole percentage point. 6. Three survey years have been combined because single year estimates are considered to be too volatile. Source: HBAI 2009-10 to 2011-12

Older Workers: Training

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that older workers have access to training to improve their skills and employability.

Esther McVey: Local jobcentres have the freedom to innovate approaches to help older people. Jobcentre Work Coaches have the flexibility to offer older people a comprehensive menu of help which includes apprenticeships, skills provision and job search support. All claimants who are long term unemployed can access the tailored, back to work support, on offer from the Work Programme.
	Community Learning is also an important part of the wider learning and skills offer for older people. It is funded through an annual budget of £210 million managed by the Skills Funding Agency and most provision is delivered or commissioned by local authority providers, FE colleges, large voluntary organisations and other providers.

Pensions Regulator

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2014, Official Report, column 685W, on pensions regulator, on what grounds the regulator did not take action in three cases; and who the 26 employers were.

Steve Webb: The regulator determined that the threshold for taking regulatory action had not been met in these cases.
	It is not possible to provide any further details given the information remains commercially sensitive and is held in confidence.

Pensions: Financial Assistance Scheme

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the extent to which the commitment to 90 per cent of expected pension entitlement for those involved in the Financial Assistance Scheme has been reached.

Steve Webb: We have not made such an assessment. The rules of the Financial Assistance Scheme are structured to provide 90% of a person's accrued pension, as at the date the scheme began to wind up—subject to a cap. Therefore, with the exception of those whose assistance is capped—323 individuals as at January 2014—everyone involved with the Financial Assistance Scheme will get a pension on this basis.

Poverty: Children

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the changes in the level of absolute child poverty since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The absolute poverty threshold has been rebased. Under the new baseline, absolute child poverty was reported at 2.3 million (18%) in 2010-11. Under the old baseline, it was reported at 1.4 million (11%). These changes result from a reclassification and in no way represent a real change in children's circumstances in 2010-11.
	From 2009-10 to 2011-12 the number of children in absolute poverty increased by 300,000. However, combined low income and material deprivation has remained about the same. This shows that families with children have not reported a reduction in their capacity to buy goods and services. Over the same period relative poverty decreased by 300,000 and is now at its lowest level since the mid-1980s.

Separated People

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of which interventions funded by the Innovation Fund for new support services for separating parents have been effective in fostering collaborative relationships between parents after separation.

Steve Webb: It would be premature to make any such assessment in advance of the formal evaluation of these projects. We have set aside funding to ensure that this evaluation is carried out effectively and have plans in place. The results will be made available once the projects have had sufficient numbers of participants to enable a robust evaluation. In some cases this may mean the project will have to have run its full course.

Separated People

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many parents have been supported by the Innovation Fund for new support services for separating parents to date.

Steve Webb: As at 31 January 2014, 3,724 parents had participated in the seven first round Innovation Fund projects. The other 10 round two projects were not up and running at that time.

Separated People

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to continue funding for the Innovation Fund for new support services for separating parents after 2014.

Steve Webb: The 17 Innovation Fund projects have been set up as pilots to learn what works in helping separated parents to resolve conflict and collaborate better. Consequently, the Innovation Fund is by its nature time limited. The final evaluation of outcomes from these projects will inform funding plans beyond the finishing date of March 2015. This could include the potential wider roll-out of those interventions that have proved to represent value for money.

Social Security Benefits

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of all claims for (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance or employment and support allowance and (c) income support in the last 10 years have lasted for (i) less than three months, (ii) between three and six months, (iii) between six and 12 months, (iv) between one and two years and (v) over two years.

Esther McVey: Information regarding the number of benefit recipients, at a point in time in each of the last 10 years, by duration can be found at:
	https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp
	Guidance for users can be found at:
	https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp

Social Security Benefits

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have had their benefits reduced to the maximum under the benefit cap (a) nationally and (b) in Scotland to date.

Esther McVey: By January 2014, 38,665 households nationally and 1,476 households in Scotland have had their benefits reduced as a result of the benefit cap since the cap was introduced. This information is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/benefit-cap-statistics

Social Security Benefits: British Nationals Abroad

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2014, Official Report, column 532W, on USA, whether UK citizens in receipt of benefits extradited to the US will still have access to benefits if released on bail.

Esther McVey: If someone is extradited but not then imprisoned, the position concerning the individual circumstances will be considered. It may be possible to pay a benefit overseas under normal temporary absence rules, however working age benefits are not paid to a person who is resident in the United States, regardless of the reason they are there.

Unemployment: Young People

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what additional help his Department offers to young unemployed people in regions of high unemployment.

Esther McVey: The number of young people claiming benefit has fallen for the last 20 consecutive months and over the last year has fallen in every region of the UK. Young people get the tailored help they need to find work through Jobcentre Plus, the Youth Contract and the Work programme. In addition, through the flexible support fund, Jobcentre Plus district managers have discretion to provide help to meet the specific needs of the local labour market.

Universal Credit

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who have begun claiming universal credit in a pilot area have (a) moved to live in an area where universal credit is not being piloted, (b) formed a new relationship such that they are classified as part of a couple and (c) have had a child.

Esther McVey: The specific information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the universal credit programme will start accepting claims from people currently eligible for or claiming employment support allowance.

Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith) on 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 65WS.
	The UC service will be fully available in each part of Great Britain during 2016, having closed down new claims to the legacy benefits it replaced; with a majority of the remaining legacy caseload moving to UC during 2016 and 2017.

Universal Credit

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how people who begin claiming universal credit in a pilot area will be treated if they (a) move to live in an area where universal credit is not being piloted, (b) form a new relationship such that they are classified as part of a couple and (c) have a child.

Esther McVey: Universal credit (UC) is now live in nine locations across the UK and as a result a number of claimants in receipt of UC have had changes in circumstances which result in:
	1. change of address where they have moved out of the prescribed post code area;
	2. starting a relationship which results in them becoming a couple;
	3. having a child or a child joining the UC household.
	In each of the above scenarios the claimant will continue to receive UC.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the progress of the Work Programme best practice group; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The group will be making its final recommendations to the Minister for Employment later this spring, though it's already made a number of helpful suggestions which have been welcomed, including building the capability of Voluntary and Community Sector, so the huge potential of this sector can be better harnessed to support some of the very hardest to help back to work.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people have started their own business with support from the work programme;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of people who have begun an apprenticeship through support provided on the work programme; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The data requested are not available. Participants on the work programme are some of the hardest people to help into work, what we do know from the latest industry published statistics is that from June 2011 to December 2013 498,000 people have been helped into work by the work programme.

Working Conditions: Temperature

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many companies have been prosecuted for breaching Regulation Seven of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, specifying the reasonable temperature of indoor workplaces since 1992.

Michael Penning: Two companies have been prosecuted under section 7 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations since 1992.

Working Conditions: Temperature

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints about unreasonable working temperatures have been received by the Health and Safety Executive since the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 came into effect.

Michael Penning: The information requested is not collated centrally in a readily retrievable format and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Electricity: Prices

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of likely changes in wholesale electricity prices in the period 2014 to 2018; and whether the influence of the Carbon Price Floor has been incorporated into those estimates. [R]

Michael Fallon: Future wholesale electricity prices are largely determined by the relative prices of coal and gas, and are therefore uncertain.
	In September 2013, DECC published projections for wholesale electricity prices under three different scenarios for fossil fuel prices. These projections include the impact of the Carbon Price Floor as well as other policies affecting the costs and mix of generation.
	The relevant information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Wholesale electricity price (including impact of Carbon Price Floor, 2013 prices) 
			 Scenario Units 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 
			 Reference p/kWh 5.2 5.9 6.1 6.2 6.3 
			 Low fossil fuel prices p/kWh 4.3 4.7 4.6 4.4 4.3 
			 High fossil fuel prices p/kWh 6.7 7.3 7.6 7.7 7.8 
			 Source: DECC Updated Energy and Emissions Projections, September 2013

Energy Company Obligation

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to publish his consultation on changes to the Energy Company Obligation and the equality impact assessment of such changes.

Gregory Barker: The consultation on the Future of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) was published on 5 March 2014 and is available here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-of-the-energy-company-obligation
	The consultation runs until 16 April 2014.
	The Government intends to publish a final impact assessment on the final ECO proposals, following the consultation, and this will include an equality assessment.

Energy Supply

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what comparative estimate his Department has made of (a) clean spark spreads as applicable to gas generation and (b) clean dark spreads as applicable to coal generation, including the effect of the Carbon Price Floor, for winter 2015 and winter 2014; and whether they are consistent with recognised market data such as ICIS Heren. [R]

Michael Fallon: The Department does not make its own estimates of short-term clean spark and dark spreads. For short-term spreads, we typically use market data from sources such as ICIS Heren.

Energy: Conservation

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much each of the Big Six energy companies should have spent on energy conservation schemes to fulfil their statutory obligations in the last three years; and how much those energy companies spent on such schemes.

Gregory Barker: Under both the current Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, and the previous schemes CERT and CESP, energy companies are set targets in terms of outputs rather than expenditure. The relevant orders do not specify how much money energy companies have to spend to fulfil their statutory obligations and it is for energy companies to decide how they meet their obligations.
	Under ECO, DECC has received monthly information on how much energy companies have spent to meet the obligations. More information on ECO costs is available here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/260907/eco_delivery_costs.pdf

Energy: Conservation

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent meetings he has had with British Gas to discuss energy efficiency measures in solid wall properties.

Gregory Barker: DECC officials regularly meet with all ECO obligated energy suppliers to discuss all aspects of ECO delivery.
	All meetings between external organisations and DECC Ministers are published on a quarterly basis on the GOV website and are downloadable from this link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?keyrwords= &publication_f ilter_option=transparency- data&topics%5B%5D=all&departments%5B%5D=department-of- energy-climate-change&direction=after&date=2011-03-01

Energy: Conservation

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to lay regulations in respect of section 43 of the Energy Act 2011.

Gregory Barker: The Department intends to publicly consult on the regulations relating to Minimum Standards of Energy Efficiency in the Private Rental Sector (secondary regulations for section 43 of the Energy Act 2011) before summer 2014. Laying the regulations will be determined by parliamentary timetable.

Energy: Meters

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many UK households currently have insufficient communications coverage to enable smart meters to work to their full capability.

Michael Fallon: Some energy suppliers are already offering smart metering services ahead of the Government’s mandated roll-out. We do not hold detailed information on the extent of communications coverage in relation to these services, but they typically depend on standard mobile phone network services.
	Wide area communications coverage for the mandated roll-out will be provided through the Data and Communications Company (DCC). The DCC is currently developing its infrastructure and services in readiness for Initial Live Operations from late 2015.
	The DCC has committed to WAN coverage targets of not less than 99.25% of GB premises by 2020, when suppliers are required to complete the roll-out. In the meantime it is obliged under its licence to seek ways of providing coverage for the remaining premises subject to technical feasibility and disproportionate cost.

Fuel Poverty

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department took to mark cold homes week.

Gregory Barker: The Department has been providing wide-ranging support throughout the winter to help people stay warm this winter, including through the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation and the warm home discount.
	The Department has also established the Big Energy Saving Network, committing nearly £2 million to its first two years of operation to grant fund community organisations to help vulnerable consumers switch to a better deal and take up of energy efficiency offers. In the week before cold homes week, the Big Energy Saving Week campaign was launched in Parliament by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), and I. This campaign, which ran from 27 to 31 January 2014, highlighted the help that is available to consumers to reduce their energy costs. There were over 300 consumer-facing events throughout Great Britain, gaining local and national media coverage. There will be an evaluation of the success of the week, prepared by campaign co-ordinators Citizens Advice, later this spring.

Fuel Poverty: Rural Areas

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the incidence of fuel poverty in rural off-gas grid areas; and what steps he is taking to tackle such fuel poverty.

Gregory Barker: The 2011 statistics for fuel poverty in England show that around one in five fuel poor households were located in rural areas. About half of these households do not have access to mains gas. This equates to approximately 269,000 households. In total, there are 2.4 million fuel poor households. The average fuel poverty gap for rural off-gas grid households is £982 compared to £438 for all households.
	Since January 2013, we have helped over 450,000 households to stay warm and upgrade their homes through the Green Deal, Energy Company Obligation and cashback offers. We are determined to go further and are consulting on options to incentivise the delivery of energy efficiency improvements to the rural fuel poor under ECO.
	We are also looking at new ways to target support off-grid, including improving access to data on off-gas grid areas to help our delivery partners.
	Recognising that not every household uses gas, we target the warm home discount—worth £135 this winter— through electricity bills. The scheme reaches over 2 million low-income households annually.

Housing: Insulation

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the Energy Company Obligation has been spent on insulating solid wall properties to date.

Gregory Barker: As of the end of December 2013, 27,518 solid wall measures had been installed under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).
	Under ECO obligated companies are set carbon reduction and home heating cost reduction targets; there is no requirement as to what companies spend to meet the targets set.
	DECC does not hold information on the overall expenditure by energy companies on a particular measure delivered under ECO.

Housing: Insulation

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of uninsulated solid-wall properties in (a) Nottingham city, (b) Nottinghamshire county, (c) the east midlands and (d) the UK.

Gregory Barker: Estimates of the number of uninsulated solid wall properties for the areas specified are not available. DECC publish regular estimates of home insulation levels in Great Britain. The most recent publication, which contains estimates for the end of September 2013, estimated that there are around 7.6 million uninsulated solid wall properties in Great Britain. This estimate will next be updated on 20 March 2014.
	The full publication is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-deal-energy-company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great-britain-quarterly-report-to-september-2013

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the name and size is of each offshore wind farm around the UK coast that currently (a) is operating, (b) is under construction, (c) has been granted planning permission but not started construction and (d) is applying for planning permission; and what the name of the company operating each such wind farm is.

Gregory Barker: The current status of UK offshore wind pipeline is:
	(a)Operational
	
		
			 Wind farm Owner MW 
			 Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Scheme Dong 108 
			 Gunfleet Sands—(Demo) Extension Dong 12 
		
	
	
		
			 Walney 2 Dong 50.1% Scottish and Southern 25.1% Ampere Equity Fund/PGGM 24.8% 183.6 
			 Beatrice Demonstrator Scottish and Southern (SSE) 50% Talisman 50% 10 
			 Rhyl Flats RWE Innogy 90 
			 Ormonde Offshore Vattenfall 150 
			 North Hoyle RWE Innogy 60 
			 Lynn Centrica 50% EIG Partners 50% 86.4 
			 Scroby Sands Eon 60 
			 Kentish Flats Vattenfall 90 
			 Greater Gabbard Wind Farm Scottish and Southern (SSE) 50% RWE Innogy 50% 504 
			 Burbo Bank Dong 90 
			 London Array Phase 1 Dong 50% Eon 30% Masdar 20% 630 
			 Thanet Vattenfall 300 
			 Sheringham Shoal Statoil 50% Statkraft 50% 317 
			 Lines Centrica 50% Dong 25% Siemens Project Ventures 25% 270 
			 Gunfleet Sands II Dong 64.8 
			 Teeside Offshore Wind Farm EDF 62.1 
			 Barrow Dong 50% and Centrica 50% 90 
			 Robin Rigg West Eon 90 
			 Blyth Offshore Eon 4 
			 Walney l Dong 50.1% Scottish and Southern 25.1% Ampere Equity Fund/PGGM 24.8% 183.6 
			 Robin Rigg East Eon 90 
			 Inner Dowsing Centrica 50% EIG Partners 50% 108 
			 Total operational  3,653.5 
		
	
	(b) Under construction
	
		
			 Wind farm Owner MW 
			 Gwynt y Mor RWE Innogy 576 
			 Humber Gateway Eon 230 
			 Fife Energy Park Samsung Heavy Industries 7 
			 Westermost Rough Dong 240.00 
			 West of Duddon Sands Dong 50% Scottish Power 50% 389 
			 Total under construction  1,442 
		
	
	(c) Awaiting construction
	
		
			 Wind farm Owner MW 
			 Galloper Wind Farm Scottish and Southern 50% RWE Innogy 50% 504 
			 Kentish Flats 2 Vattenfall 51 
			 Race Bank Dong 580 
			 Triton Knoll RWE Innogy 900.00 
			 NAREC Offshore Wind Demonstrator National Renewable Energy Centre 99.9 
			 European Offshore Wind Development Centre Vattenfall 75% Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group 25% 84 
			 Dudgeon East Statoil 70% Statkraft 30% 350 
			 Total awaiting construction  2,568.9 
		
	
	(d) Planning submitted
	
		
			 Wind farm Owner MW 
			 Inch Cape Repsol 51% EDP Renovaveis 49% 1,050.00 
		
	
	
		
			 MacColl Offshore Windfarm (Moray Firth) Repsol 33% EDP Renovaveis 67% 500 
			 Telford Offshore Windfarm (Moray Firth) Repsol 33% EDP Renovaveis 67% 500 
			 Stevenson Offshore Windfarm (Moray Firth) Repsol 33% EDP Renovaveis 67% 500 
			 Rampion Offshore Wind Farm Eon 700 
			 Beatrice Scottish and Southern 75% Repsol 25% 997.2 
			 Neart na Gaoithe Mainstream Renewable Power 450 
			 Dogger Bank Creyke Beck A Scottish and Southern 25% Statoil 25% RWE Innogy 25% Statkraft 25%) 1,200.00 
			 Dogger Bank Creyke Beck B Scottish and Southern 25% Statoil 25% RWE Innogy 25% Statkraft 25% 1,200.00 
			 Walney extension Dong 750 
			 Burbo Bank extension Dong 250 
			 East Anglia One Vattenfall 50% Scottish Power 50% 1,200.00 
			 Hornsea Project One—Heron Mainstream Renewable Power 33.3% Siemens Project Ventures 33.3% Dong 33.3% 498.00 
			 Hornsea Project One—Njord Mainstream Renewable Power 33.3% Siemens Project Ventures 33.3% Dong 33.3% 498.00 
			 Seagreen Alpha Fluor 50% Scottish and Southern 50% 525 
			 Seagreen Bravo Fluor 50% Scottish and Southern 50% 525 
			 Total submitted  11,343.20 
		
	
	We are expecting that other offshore wind projects that are not currently in the planning system will come forward in future years.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the re-baselining of the QE Class aircraft carrier has been completed and whether the programme has been re-approved.

Philip Dunne: As announced by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 6 November 2013, Official Report , columns 251-4, following agreement of a new Heads of Terms for the programme between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, the programme has been rebaselined at £6.2 billion. The revised programme will be subject to formal re-approval by the MOD approval authorities. We expect this to take place in the spring.

Appeals

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many appeals were brought against his Department in (a) employment tribunals and (b) other courts in each year since 2010; and of these how many were granted.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence does not hold the requested information.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) rape, (b) sexual assault and (c) sexual harassment referrals there were from the armed forces in (i) 2012 and (ii) 2013; how many such cases were directed for trial; how many trials were held; how many guilty verdicts were recorded; what the gender was of each person so referred to in the cases; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: I will write to the hon. Member shortly.
	Substantive answer from Anna Soubry to Madeleine Moon:
	In my answer of 24 February 2014 (Official Report, column 64W) I promised to write in response to your question on the number of rapes, sexual assaults and sexual harassment referrals for 2012 and 2013.
	All allegations of rape, sexual assault and sexual theme harassment made by members of the Armed Forces will be thoroughly investigated by either the civil or service police, depending upon who has jurisdiction. The following tables provide details of the number of allegations of rape, sexual assaults and sexual theme harassment referred by the Service Police in 2012 and 2013. Reference to Sexual Assault covers offences under sections 2 and 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (s2 & s3 SOA 03), and sexual harassment as offences with a sexual theme within section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (s2 PH97).
	
		
			 Sexual Offence Total Referrals made by Service Police in 2012 Total Male Referrals in 2012 Total Female Referrals in 2012 
			 Rape 27 referrals (in 22 cases) 27 0 
			 Sexual Assault (S2 & S3 SOA 03) 50 50 0 
			 Sexual Theme Harassment (s2 PH97) 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Sexual Offence Total Referrals made by Service Police in 2013 Total Male Referrals in 2013 Total Female Referrals in 2013 
			 Rape 26 referrals (in 20 cases) 26 0 
			 Sexual Assault (s2 & s3 SOA 03) 56 55 1 
			 Sexual Theme Harassment (s2 PH97) 3 3 0 
		
	
	In addition to the 26 referrals, 13 males remain under investigation for Rape allegations in 2013.
	Referrals by the Service Police for rape and section 2 sexual assault offences are made to the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA). Referrals by the Service Police for section 3 sexual assault offences are made to the Commanding Officer. It is then for the Commanding Officer to decide whether to refer them on to the SPA.
	The following tables provide details of referrals to the SPA each year in 2012 and 2013, the number directed for trial, the number not directed for trial, the number of trials held and the number of convictions.
	
		
			 Sexual Offence Cases Referred in 2012 Directed for Trial Not directed for Trial Trials Held to date Convictions 
			 Rape 22 11 11 10 4 
			       
			 Sexual Assault (s2 & S3 SOA 03) 31 18 13 18 9 
			 Sexual Harassment (s2 PH97) 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Sexual offence Cases Referred in 2013 Directed for Trial Not directed for Trial Awaiting Decision (at end of 2013) Trials Held to date Convictions 
			 Rape 20 9 4 7 1 0 
			        
			 Sexual Assault (s2 & S3 SOA 03) 45 23 8 14 12 7 
			        
			 Sexual Harassment (s2 PH97) 11 0 1 0 0 0 
			 1 Sexual Assault and Harassment 
		
	
	Service Police records are based on the number of referrals, whilst SPA records are based on the number of cases (each of which may comprise a number of referrals). Decisions on cases are therefore best compared to the number of cases referred, rather than the number of individuals referred.
	The SPA often receive referrals in one year and the cases are directed, disposed and/or tried in the following year, so there is no direct correlation to the number of cases brought in any one year.

Army: Recruitment

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 66W, on army: training, what further steps he is taking to improve recruiting performance; and what targets have been set to assess results.

Anna Soubry: The Army assesses recruiting performance on a regular basis as part of normal internal business. The enlistment targets for reserve forces for the next five years were set out in the paper placed in the Library of the House on 19 December 2013, Official Report, column 124WS.

Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability Programme

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the final performance cost and time envelope for the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability tankers has been agreed with the Ministry of Defence Approving Authority.

Philip Dunne: The performance, cost and time envelope for the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability Tankers was approved by the Ministry of Defence's Investment Approvals Committee (IAC) in October 2011. This approval was based on indicative information and allowed the competitive process to be completed.
	The final performance cost and time envelope was confirmed by the IAC in December 2012.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department received copies of Martin-Baker's Special Information Leaflets, SIL 704 and SIL 704A; and what steps it has taken to incorporate the revised checks into the appropriate maintenance publications.

Philip Dunne: Special Information Leaflet (SIL) 704 was received on 15 November 2011 and SIL 704A on 18 November 2013. Corresponding Ministry of Defence (MOD) Technical Instructions were issued on 16 November 2011 and 5 December 2013 respectively to ejection seat maintenance units. Both Technical Instructions mandated checks of the ejection seat drogue shackle that were more stringent than those laid down in the SILs. In both cases, amendment action to the appropriate MOD maintenance publications commenced soon after issue of the Technical Instruction.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a list of Martin-Baker's Special Information Leaflets, with contents summary, issued between 1990 and 1996.

Philip Dunne: Martin-Baker Aircraft issues Special Information Leaflets (SIL) to the Ministry of Defence as a contract deliverable for each aircraft type. The Department does not therefore necessarily receive a copy of every SIL issued by the company. Information on SILs relating solely to aircraft types and equipment that are no longer in-service is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A list of those SILs that are known to have been received by the Department between 1990 and 1996, with contents summaries, will be placed in the Library of the House.

NATO Response Force

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the submarine asset assigned to NATO's Immediate Response Force has not been available for tasking in each of the last five years.

Andrew Murrison: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 March 2014, Official Report, column 847W.

Publications

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost to his Department has been of the production, publication and distribution of (a) KiT!, (b) desider and (c) Defence Focus magazines in each year since 2010.

Anna Soubry: The total cost of Kit!, desider and Defence Focus for each financial year since 2008-10 is shown in the following table. The figures incorporate all production, distribution and staff costs and take into account advertising revenue received by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) that mitigates these costs; desider shows a net gain to the MOD because advertising revenue exceeds production costs.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Financial year (net cost) Kit! desider1 Defence Focus 
			 2008-09 106,395 2-18,514 308,384 
			 2009-10 106,774 -32,069 277,970 
			 2010-11 127,474 -184,701 202,731 
			 2011-12 96,311 -157,686 187,024 
			 2012-13 97,683 -66,709 194,418 
			 2013-14 (to date) 101,087 -270,653 169,780 
			 1 All costs are VAT exclusive apart from desider advertising revenue in FYs 2009-10 and 2010-11.This can only accurately be provided on a VAT inclusive basis due to late payments and changes in year to VAT. 2 desider was launched in May 2008. 
		
	
	Kit! is published quarterly and provides information to MOD users on equipment care, maintenance and safety. desider is the monthly corporate publication for Defence Equipment and Support and covers equipment and support activities from acquisition to disposal. Defence Focus is the principal in-house MOD journal and includes a wide variety of news and features aimed at ensuring the armed forces and MOD personnel are kept abreast of Defence issues. All three publications are published in print and online.

Tornado Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria were applied when evaluating the suitability of the automatic wing sweep for installation on the Tornado F3.

Philip Dunne: I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many trained and operational unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pilots there have been in the Army since 2004; and in which countries those pilots have flown UAVs. [R]

Mark Francois: I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Substantive answer from Mark Francois to Tom Watson:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question about unmanned aircraft systems on 31 October 2013 (Official Report, column 549W).
	To answer your question, as at 31 October 2013, the number of unmanned aircraft pilots the Army has trained since 2004 is 868. Since 2004, pilots have operated unmanned aircraft in a variety of countries including, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Kenya, Canada and the United States of America.
	In researching this answer, my officials identified an error in an earlier response which my predecessor (Andrew Robathan) provided you on 17 June 2013 (Official Report, column 502W).
	It has been brought to my attention that while the number of students who passed the UAS ground school course since April 1999 was correctly identified as 461, this information did not fully address your question. This is because the answer did not take account of those personnel who have undertaken conversion training from earlier systems or refresher training. The answer should therefore have stated that the actual number of Army personnel who have received training was 1062 not 461, although it is likely that this larger number will include a number of individuals who have been trained twice (initially and refresher) but these cannot be identified separately.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

All Party Physical Activity Commission

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish her Department's evidence to the All Party Commission on Physical Activity.

Helen Grant: ‘Moving More, Living More’—a Government campaign to promote physical activity was launched on 13 February. A copy of this document has been sent to the All Party Commission to set out the Government's approach to have a more active nation, as the physical activity element of the legacy to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A copy of this document will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Betting

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate her Department has made of how much was bet per head of population in each local authority area of the UK;
	(2)  what data is available to her Department to monitor levels of betting across the UK;
	(3)  what estimate her Department has made of the number of betting shops per head of population in each local authority area in the UK;
	(4)  what estimate her Department has made of the number of fixed odds betting machines per head of population in each local authority area of the UK;
	(5)  what estimate her Department has made of the amount bet each week on fixed odds betting machines per head of population in each local authority area in the UK;
	(6)  what estimate her Department has made of the number of fixed odds betting machines in each of the (a) 100 poorest and (b) 100 richest council wards in the UK.

Helen Grant: Details of licensed gambling premises are collated by local authorities and are published on the Gambling Commission website. The Department does not hold statistics capturing the amount bet per head of population, levels of betting or the number of Category B2 gaming machines by local authority; however, according to the Gambling Commission's national Industry Statistics, the gross gaming yield for 2012-13 for off course betting in betting shops was £1,480.7 million, and the average gross gaming yield for 2012-13 for each Category B2 gaming machine in betting shops (including GGY generated from B3 content on B2 machines) was £1,547.12.

Food: Advertising

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the dates, agendas and minutes of meetings Ministers and officials in her Department have had on children, child obesity and food advertising with representatives of the (a) Advertising Association, (b) Direct Marketing Association and (c) Internet Advertising Bureau between January 2012 and March 2014.

Edward Vaizey: There have been no meetings with either the Advertising Association, the Direct Marketing Association or the Internet Advertising Bureau in the period between January 2012 and March 2014 on the subject of children, child obesity or food advertising.

Internet

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what services her Department provides that are (a) available online only and (b) planned to move to online only.

Helen Grant: The Department provides no services which are only available online and there are no plans for any services to move to online only.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 23 January 2014, case reference CMS 244813.

Helen Grant: I responded to the hon. Gentleman’s letter of 23 January on 4 March.

Museums and Galleries

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people visited the National Railway Museum's Mallard 75 events; how many other major exhibitions were staged outside London by national museums in 2013-14 and how many people attended each of those exhibitions; what plans national museums have to attract more visitors to exhibitions outside London; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: There were 365,432 visits to the ‘Mallard 75’ events at the National Railway Museum, York, which took place on 3 to 17 July 2013, 26 October to 11 November 2013 and 15 to 23 February 2014.
	DCMS-sponsored national museums made loans to 2,727 UK venues in 2012-13, a 78% increase in the number of venues loaned to in 2008-09. In 2012-13, a total of 7.3 million visits were made to DCMS-sponsored national museums outside London (National Museums Liverpool, the Natural History Museum at Tring, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the National Railway Museum, the National Media Museum, the Royal Armouries in Leeds and Fort Nelson, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives, IWM North and IWM Duxford). These museums plan to host 50 special exhibitions during 2013-14.
	In their grant in aid settlements it is set out that DCMS-sponsored national museums are expected to work in partnership with other museums in the UK and the national museums have regional partnerships through which they develop long-term, mutually beneficial programmes with non-national museums across the UK. These will include loans, touring exhibitions, exchanges of expertise, education programmes, conservation and community projects.

Music: Exports

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the contribution to exports of One Direction.

Edward Vaizey: I want to tell the hon. Member that the Government has made no estimate of the contribution to exports of One Direction. However, the BPI have reported one thing: that One Direction are one of a number of UK artists who in recent years have helped to accelerate export sales of British music to over 13% of the global market—the largest share taken apart from the US. More than this, I wish to tell the hon. Member that the BPI and UK Trade and Investment (UKT1) have launched the Music Export Growth Scheme, offering £3 million in grants to small-to-medium-sized independent music companies over a three-year period to help them grow their overseas export markets, and UKTI is also holding an Export Week from 7 to 11 April 2014 and is also supporting music companies at SXSW. These little things I would suggest will make a big difference.

Tourism

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate she has made of the contribution of the tourism industry to the economy of (a) each English region, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

Helen Grant: Tourism is a major part of the United Kingdom economy. The latest regional-breakdown estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), published on 20 February 2014, show that in 2011 tourism directly contributed a gross value-added (GVA) of around £50 billion to the UK (4% of the economy). Further economic analysis by Deloitte, commissioned by Visit Britain, suggests that if indirect economic effects are also included, GVA is forecast to be as high as £127 billion (9% of the UK economy) in 2013. Deloitte's study covers London, the Rest of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland while the ONS provides estimates for each English region as well as to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A breakdown of the figures is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Region ONS figures for 2011 (direct in £ billion) Deloitte figures for 2013 (direct and indirect in £ billion) 
			 Scotland 5.0 11.6 
			 Wales 2.3 6.9 
			 Northern Ireland 0.3 1.6 
			 London 13.1 36.0 
			 Rest of England — 70.0 
			 North East 1.1 — 
			 North West 5.1 — 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 2.6 — 
			 East Midlands 2.3 — 
			 West Midlands 2.5 — 
			 East of England 3.4 — 
			 South East 6.6 — 
			 South West 4.4 —

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

All Party Physical Activity Commission

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will publish his Department's evidence to the All Party Commission on Physical Activity.

Brandon Lewis: ‘Moving More, Living More’—a Government campaign to promote physical activity was launched on 13 February. A copy of this document has been sent to the All Party Commission to set out the Government's approach to have a more active nation, as the physical activity element of the legacy to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. A copy of this document will be placed in the Library of the House.

Council Tax

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what he has made of the total number of people who will pay (a) increased council tax and (b) council tax for the first time from April 2014 as a result of the withdrawal of the council tax support transitional funding that was offered in the 2013-14 financial year.

Brandon Lewis: We do not collect this information centrally. These are local schemes, and it is for local authorities to ensure that the effect on specific groups of council tax payers is proportionate and fair.
	The £100 million transition grant was a voluntary grant for the first year only of the new system of local council tax support. We have been clear from the outset that it was intended to give councils time to transition to the new localised regime and realise greater efficiencies such as cutting fraud and error, which cost £230 million in 2012-13.
	Spending on council tax benefit doubled under the last Government, costing taxpayers £4 billion a year—equivalent to almost £180 a year per household. Welfare reform is vital to tackle the budget deficit left by the last Administration. Our reforms to localise council tax support now give councils stronger incentives to support local firms, cut fraud, promote local enterprise and get people into work. We are ending the last Administration's 'something for nothing' culture and making work pay.

Home Information Packs

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of how many people buying leasehold properties in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 were charged over £500 by management companies for the information they needed to complete the purchase;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of how long it took people buying leasehold properties in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 to obtain from management companies the necessary information they needed to complete the purchase.

Kris Hopkins: This information is not centrally held.

Homelessness

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent to prevent and tackle homelessness since May 2010.

Kris Hopkins: The following table sets out the total amount of Homelessness Prevention Grant funding allocated to local authorities since 2010-11.
	
		
			 Local authorities Preventing homelessness funding (£) 
			 2008-09 49,204,000 
			 2009-10 51,434,870 
			 2010-11 52,257,370 
			 2011-12 81,500,000 
			 2012-13 81,500,000 
			 2013-14 180,000,000 
			 2014-15 180,000,008 
			 1This is the amount identified within the Start-up Funding Assessment/Settlement Funding Settlement for 2013-14 and 2014-15. This is partially funded through Revenue Support Grant and partially through retained business rates. The actual amount of retained business rates is subject to the amount of business rates collected by each individual authority. 
		
	
	Since 2013-14, the Homelessness Prevention Grant has been rolled into the Local Government Finance Settlement; For the 2013-14 allocations adjustments were made to take into account new funding mechanisms for Court Desks. Where authorities had previously received Court Desk funding through a baseline uplift of the Homelessness Prevention Grant the funding was moved to the Ministry of Justice. This explains the lower figure since 2013-14.
	On top of the baseline grant we provided an additional £24,660,699 in 2010-11 to help authorities meet homelessness pressures in their area and in 2011-12 we provided an additional £18,620,000 for authorities to tackle single homelessness. More recently we invested an additional £1,070,000 over two years (2012-13 to 2013-14) to support local authorities to deliver a ‘Gold Standard’ homelessness prevention service. We provided £19,000,002 in 2011-12 to help authorities prevent repossessions.
	We are also providing £42,500,000 capital funding under the Homelessness Change Programme over three years (2011-12 to 2014-15) which falls under the Affordable Homes programme.
	From 1 April 2012, affordable housing funding for London has been devolved to the Mayor of London. This includes £12,760,000 capital funding for the Homelessness Change programme.
	We are also providing about a further £2,000,000 over two years (2013-14 and 2014-15) to help local authorities tackle the use of bed and breakfast accommodation to house homeless families.

Homelessness: North East

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to each council in the North East of England of meeting their statutory homeless obligations was in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14.

Kris Hopkins: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 20 January 2014, Official Report, columns 56-7W.
	Figures for 2013-14 can be found online at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225875/RA_2013-14_data_by_LA_-_Nat_Stats_Release_-_31-Jul-2013.xls

Housing: Greater London

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much land is available for house building within Greater London;
	(2)  how much brownfield land has been designated for house building within Greater London.

Kris Hopkins: The information requested is not held centrally.
	Local planning authorities, as part of their Local Plan, should prepare a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment to assess the availability, suitability, and viability of land to meet their identified housing need.

Housing: Greater London

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average density of homes per hectare is for new build developments within Greater London in the latest period for which data are available.

Kris Hopkins: Local authority figures, including for each London borough, can be found in Table P232 at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/267565/201312_-_Tables_P231-P232_-_LUCS_-_Density_of_new_dwellings.xls

Leasehold: Complaints

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will extend the Redress scheme to include management agencies for leasehold properties.

Kris Hopkins: The requirement that letting and property management agents in England must be a member of an approved redress scheme will apply in both the leasehold and the private rented sector.

Local Government Finance

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers he has to investigate the financial management of local authorities.

Brandon Lewis: Section 10 of the Local Government Act 1999 provides the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), with the power to request an inspection of a local authority’s compliance with its best value duties. An inspection under these powers could cover financial management. In line with the Government’s policy of localism, the Secretary of State would only seek to use these powers if he had significant concerns about the governance or performance of a local authority.

Local Government: North East

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to lay the draft Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Combined Authority Order 2014.

Brandon Lewis: The draft Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland Combined Authority Order 2014 will shortly be laid before Parliament.

Maternity Leave

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of civil servants in his Department who were on maternity leave in each of the last five years returned to work.

Brandon Lewis: The proportion of civil servants that returned to work in the Department following maternity leave in each of the last five years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Maternity leave year Proportion of staff returned (%) 
			 2009 97.0 
			 2010 90.0 
			 2011 94.8 
			 2012 96.0 
			 2013 100.0 
		
	
	The proportion of returners for 2010 and 2011 maternity leave years was lower owing to the fact that there were more opportunities for staff to leave on a voluntary basis in these years under the Department’s broader restructuring programme.
	To place these figures in context, I would note that the 2012 XpertHR maternity leave survey of private and sector organisations, found that:
	58% of organisations had between 90% and 100% of women return after maternity leave,
	36% of organisations had return rates higher than 50% but less than 90%, and
	6% of organisations had return rates of less than 50%.

Planning Permission

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to make an announcement on changes to permitted development rights; and if he will make a statement.

Nicholas Boles: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement on local planning made on 6 March 2014, Official Report, column 49-51WS. We intend to bring forward regulations shortly to implement changes to permitted development for greater flexibilities for change of use.

Property: Floods

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make flood risk part of the mandatory search requirements for property purchase.

Kris Hopkins: The Law Society, which provides guidance to solicitors on this topic, has been consulting on proposals that flood risk will become a mandatory part of solicitors' searches before final purchase. The consultation can be found at:
	http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/representation/policy-discussion/enquiries-of-local-authorities-con29-and-con29o-consultation/
	The Law Society also published a practice note on flood risk in May 2013. This can be found online at:
	http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/advice/practice-notes/flood-risk/
	Moreover, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency are working to ensure flood risk data are readily available, including to prospective home-buyers.

Returning Officers

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was paid to returning officers in England for running (a) council by-elections and (b) parish council by-elections in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: The running of local elections, including by-elections, is one of the services covered by the Local Government Finance Settlement and there is no separately ring-fenced funding for this. The Government does not collect information on payments to returning officers.
	To the extent that the payments are fees for the chief officer concerned, the council's annual pay policy statement will set out their policy on paying such fees.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries: Abortion

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to her Department's policy document entitled, Safe and Unsafe Abortion, how much her Department spent on (a) legal and policy reform campaigns to liberalise abortion law and policy in other countries and (b) raising awareness among policy-makers, legislators, national health authorities and health personnel in other countries of the circumstances under which abortion may be allowed by (i) country, (ii) region and (iii) nature of recipient in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK Government supports the prevention of unsafe abortion as part of broader public health efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health and reduce the number of women who would otherwise die or be injured. Data on spend for individual components of sexual and reproductive health and rights are not compiled.

Developing Countries: Family Planning

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what arrangements her Department has in place to assess the value-for-money of its funding for (a) Programme Partnership Arrangements Marie Stopes International, (b) the International Planned Parenthood Federation and (c) the United Nations Population Fund; whether those arrangements include the collection of data on the number of abortions provided by these organisations; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID makes an annual assessment of the extent to which the UK Government is achieving value for money from its Programme Partnership Arrangement (PPA) funding to Marie Stopes International (MSI) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Similar arrangements apply to the funding provided to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
	DFID does not collect the data requested on abortions. However, during the period 2012-13 PPA funding to IPPF and MSI is estimated to have prevented 715,929 unsafe abortions.

Developing Countries: Females

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how her Department plans to develop, implement and monitor the Strategic Priority on Violence against Women and Girls in its next operational plan in 2015.

Lynne Featherstone: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her on 5 March 2014, Official Report, column 887W.

Developing Countries: Water

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to promote World Water Day; and if she will prioritise financial support for water sanitation and waste water treatment up to 2015.

Lynne Featherstone: For World Water Day, DFID will be running an event in our UK offices involving DFID's chief economist and external speakers. This event will generate increased awareness and highlight opportunities to support water security for poor people. We will also be hosting an event for DFID staff and members of the UK Water Network on sustainability of WASH services and making effective use of new technologies to support monitoring and maintenance of water supplies.
	The UK Government has committed to support 60 million people gain access to sustainable water and sanitation by the end of 2015. We are on-track to meet this target and have provided the financial and human resources required to achieve this target.

Egypt

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Minister of State in her Department discussed the flow of humanitarian aid and the normalisation of trade across borders between Sinai and the Gaza Strip on her recent visit to representatives of the Egyptian Government in Cairo.

Alan Duncan: No DFID Ministers have visited Egypt recently.

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 108W, on equality, what the equivalent figures were for financial year 2013-14.

Alan Duncan: During the period April to September 2013 DFID spent a total of £26,500 on the promotion of equality and diversity. This included the costs of one staff member directly responsible for this work.
	Since October 2013 DFID no longer has specific roles responsible for diversity and equality. The delivery of equality and diversity is now a responsibility of general HR staff.

Internet

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what services her Department provides that are (a) available online only and (b) planned to move to online only.

Alan Duncan: DFID currently provides a dedicated on-line supplier portal that holds suppliers' registration details when they wish to participate in DFID tendering competitions.
	DFID has no plans to create or move any other services to a dedicated online facility.

Mozambique

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will discuss steps to mitigate the risk of widespread famine in Mozambique with the Government of that country.

Lynne Featherstone: The Mozambican Government and UN have confirmed that there has been misreporting in the Mozambican press in recent days about widespread famine in that country. However, many poor Mozambicans still do not have reliable access to the healthy food that they need. DFID in Mozambique is implementing a range of initiatives to tackle food insecurity.

Overseas Aid

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to assess the human rights records of states in receipt of direct development aid from the UK.

Justine Greening: The UK Government monitors human rights overseas very closely and our assessment is published annually in the Foreign Office's Human Rights and Democracy report. Any budget support to partner governments is only provided after we have assessed their respect for human rights through our Partnership Principles.

Overseas Aid

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK official development assistance has been allocated to non-departmental spending in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.

Alan Duncan: In 2012 non-departmental Official Development Assistance (ODA) expenditure was £215 million.
	Provisional information for 2013 non-departmental ODA will be available in April 2014 in DFID's National Statistics publication “Provisional ODA as a proportion of GNI”. Provisional information for 2014 non-departmental ODA will be available in April 2015.

Philippines

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to evaluate the UK's role in the relief effort in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan.

Justine Greening: All DFID programmes include monitoring arrangements to continually assess effectiveness and impact and to ensure UK aid is getting to those most in need of assistance. Recipient organisations are closely monitored and are required to report regularly to DFID.

Staff

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many full-time officials in her Department have responsibility for issues related to women and girls.

Justine Greening: Gender equality is a top DFID priority and is mainstreamed across the whole Department.

Staff

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many full-time members of staff in her Department have responsibility for her Department's role in the post millennium development goals framework.

Justine Greening: The post-2015 development framework is a top DFID priority and is mainstreamed across the whole Department.

UN Commission on the Status of Women

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government's objectives are for the UN Commission on the Status of Women; and if she will make it her policy to (a) prioritise women's social and political participation in fragile states and (b) support a gender goal in the post-2015 framework with special reference to fragile states and conflict-affected areas.

Lynne Featherstone: Our objective at the 58th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women is to secure agreed conclusions that reflect lessons learnt from the millennium development goals and support the UK's call for a standalone goal on gender equality as well as ensuring that this issue is addressed throughout the post 2015 framework. Women's social and political participation in fragile states remains a priority for the UK Government.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what formal response he has made to President Karzai's view that Al Qaeda is more a myth than a reality.

Hugh Robertson: We have made no formal response to President Karzai's comments regarding Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda continues to remain a threat. We are in Afghanistan to protect our national security by helping Afghans to take control of their own and to make sure Afghanistan does not again become a safe haven for international terrorists. Since our presence in Afghanistan, the terrorist threat to the UK from this region has been substantially reduced.

Burma

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Burmese counterpart on the persecution of the Christians within the Rohingya and Kachin ethnic tribes.

Hugo Swire: During my recent visit to Burma, I met the Kachin Baptist Convention, the largest religious organisation in Kachin State, and discussed a wide range of issues. I raised our human rights concerns with senior members of the Burmese Government and called for religious tolerance and dialogue in my speech at the British Council in Rangoon.
	Christians comprise a small minority of the Rohingya population. We have consistently called the Burmese Government to provide security and resolve the citizenship issues of the Rohingya community as a whole.
	Our ambassador and embassy officials meet regularly with representatives of all faith communities, both in Rangoon and in the wider country. The UK is also supporting interfaith dialogue to help build trust between communities—for example through a project promoting peace building among youths from different faith groups.

Falkland Islands

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance he has issued to Government Departments and Agencies on when it is appropriate to refer to the Falkland Islands as Falkland Islands (Malvinas) or Malvinas when answering parliamentary questions.

Hugo Swire: There is no ambiguity on this point. All Government Departments and Agencies should refer to the Islands by their correct name, which is the Falkland Islands.

Hezbollah

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of involvement by Hezbollah’s political wing in terrorist activities.

Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not received any reports of involvement by Hizballah’s political wing in terrorism.

Hezbollah

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of Hezbollah’s military presence in Syria.

Hugh Robertson: We condemn Hizballah’s ongoing military support for the brutal Assad regime in Syria and its recent involvement in the fighting around Yabroud. We have consistently called for Iran, Hizballah and all other foreign fighters and forces to withdraw from Syria.
	We are very concerned by the impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon. We urge all parties in Lebanon to abide by Lebanon’s policy of neutrality with respect to the Syrian crisis. Lebanon’s hard-won peace must not become another victim of Assad’s determination to hang on to power at any cost.

Hezbollah

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Iran's relationship with Hezbollah.

Hugh Robertson: We continue to have serious concerns about Iran's support for the military wing of Hezbollah. This support includes the provision of significant financial resources, training and weapons, in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1747.

Hezbollah

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of recent weapons transfers to Hezbollah from Syria.

Hugh Robertson: We remain concerned by reports of continuing weapons transfers to Hezbollah. Any such transfers are in violation of Security Council resolution 1701 and pose a threat to Lebanese and regional stability.

Indonesia

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the publication by Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Indonesia: Pluralism in peril, what assessment he has made of the conclusions of that report; what representations he has made to the Indonesian government about tolerance for religious communities including Christians; and if he will make a statement.

Hugo Swire: We welcome the recent Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) report. The promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion is a priority for this Government and one on which we regularly engage with international partners. We recognise many of the concerns raised and discussed the report's findings with representatives from CSW and visiting Indonesian religious leaders at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 27 February.
	Indonesia has a strong tradition of religious diversity and tolerance but there has been a rise in recent years of localised instances of inter- and intra-religious conflict and examples where the rights of religious minority groups, including Christians, have not been protected. The central Government and law enforcement have not always responded as firmly as expected and, at times, have been overruled at the local level. We remain concerned that some local bylaws abrogate the rights of women and religious minority groups.
	We continue to closely monitor the situation and to engage at senior levels with the Government of Indonesia about our concerns. Our ambassador in Jakarta has discussed these issues with the Minister of Religious Affairs, Indonesian civil society and religious leaders. We have worked with local partners in Indonesia on engagement with religious leaders and police to improve rights of freedom of religion or belief. We also raise freedom of religion or belief concerns at the annual EU-Indonesia Human Rights Dialogue.
	Furthermore, during the UN General Assembly week in September, Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend Baroness Warsi, brought together Ministers and senior officials, including the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, to discuss what more politicians could do to promote freedom of religion and fight religious intolerance within our societies.

Iran: Iraq

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of arms sales from Iran to Iraq.

Hugh Robertson: We are concerned by reports of a possible $195 million purchase of arms by Iraq from Iran, and have raised the issue with the Government of Iraq. Importing arms from Iran would be in direct breach of UN Security Council resolution 1747.

North Korea

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to address the persecution of Christians in North Korea.

Hugo Swire: Ministers take every opportunity to raise our significant concerns about the appalling human rights violations by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK)—violations, which the recent UN Commission of Inquiry report highlighted, including severe punishments for practising Christianity. I welcomed the report and I urged the DPRK authorities to respond to its contents. The UK is actively supporting a strong UN Human Rights Council resolution on the DPRK. I was in Geneva on 3 March, working to deliver a resolution which makes clear that there can be no impunity for human rights violators.

North Korea

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received regarding the persecution of Christians in North Korea.

Hugo Swire: On 23 January I met the All Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea, along with fellow parliamentarians and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including Christian Solidarity Worldwide. We discussed UK policy towards the DPRK and explored how we could use the Commission of Inquiry report to maintain pressure on the DPRK to address its human rights record, not least with regard to the persecution of Christians. I also receive regular letters from MPs and members of the public on this topic. I will keep the AH Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea and interested Members of Parliament updated on this issue.

North Korea

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his counterparts in other countries potential steps that could be taken to stop persecution of Christians in North Korea.

Hugo Swire: In Geneva on 3 March, I discussed with several of our international partners how the UN Human Rights Council could address the range of shocking human right violations in the DPRK, not least the persecution of Christians. Negotiations on the resolution are ongoing. We still continue to make every effort to ensure that it sends a clear message on the need for accountability for human rights violators.

Russia

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance his Department has issued to Paralympians attending the Sochi Paralympics.

David Lidington: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials are in close contact with the British Paralympic Association (BPA). FCO officials met BPA representatives on 15 January, 17 February and 27 February to provide them with advice ahead of their travel to Sochi. We stand ready to offer further assistance if necessary. The Prime Minister made clear in his statement of 2 March that, although Ministers will not now be attending the Paralympics in light of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, he fully supports the participation in the games of UK athletes.

Russia

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it the policy of the Government that the Russian Federation be suspended from the Council of Europe until it complies with its obligations under the 1949 Statute.

David Lidington: We have had no discussion with our Council of Europe counterparts on the Russian Federation's Membership at this point.
	The UK utterly condemns Russia's illegal violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Ukraine and we continue to use every opportunity, including through the Council of Europe, to make sure that the Governments of Russia and Ukraine are talking to each other. These talks are crucial to resolving the situation.
	At the European Council meeting on 6 March the Prime Minister made it very clear that it cannot be business as usual with Russia. European leaders have agreed to suspend negotiations on a more liberal visa regime for Russians, to stop work on a comprehensive new agreement on relations between Russia and the EU, and to pull out of all preparations for the G8 .summit in Sochi in June.
	The UK is considering what further measures we might take to increase diplomatic pressure on Russia if it does not de-escalate the current unacceptable situation.

South Sudan

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that there is no impunity for people responsible for crimes against humanity being committed in the conflict in South Sudan.

Mark Simmonds: We are deeply concerned by continuing reports of human rights violations and abuses in South Sudan, which the recent UN interim report suggests are being committed by all sides.
	We welcome the African Union's announcement to establish the Commission of Inquiry, which should ensure that all human rights allegations are investigated and perpetrators are held accountable. We are urging the Commission of Inquiry to act quickly and deploy an investigation team to collect all the necessary information. Thorough investigations and genuine accountability will be a crucial factor in the national reconciliation process.
	When I met the South Sudanese Foreign Minister in February 2014, I was clear that there must be no impunity for those who have committed human rights abuses.

Ukraine

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in the Ukraine; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) to the House on 4 March 2014, Official Report, columns 755-780, about the UK Government's position on the current situation in Ukraine. The Prime Minister also answered questions on Ukraine in the House on 5 March 2014, Official Report, columns 881-883.

Ukraine

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made since the NATO Bucharest summit in April 2008 in inviting Ukraine to join NATO; and whether this issue is on the agenda for the NATO summit in Newport in 2014.

David Lidington: Since the 2008 Bucharest summit communiqué, NATO has continued its engagement with Ukraine through a wide range of initiatives. The most significant of these were the 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership, the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) and the Annual National Plan, which was established following the 2008 Bucharest summit specifically to support Ukraine's reform efforts. These initiatives continue to operate into the present. However, in February 2010 President Yankovych announced that Ukraine would not pursue NATO membership, favouring 'non-bloc' status instead.

Ukraine

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Russian counterpart on the Russian Government’s perceptions of events in Ukraine; and if he will place in the Library a copy of any written communication he has had on this matter with Mr Lavrov.

David Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on 5 March at a ministerial meeting in Paris, at which the Foreign Secretary reiterated his call for de-escalation of the situation in Crimea and respect for the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. He also urged Russia to meet its international commitments and to talk directly to the Ukrainian Government, through ministerial and military channels.
	Prior to this, the Foreign Secretary spoke to Mr Lavrov on 1 March, when the Russian ambassador was also summoned to the Foreign Office.
	The Foreign Secretary has not communicated with Mr Lavrov in writing since the situation in Crimea began.

Ukraine

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many requests for consular assistance relating to crime have been made by UK citizens at the UK embassy in Kiev since November 2013.

David Lidington: Since November 2013, British embassy officials in Kiev have received no requests for consular assistance from British nationals relating to crime.
	We regularly review and update our travel advice, which includes a section on crime, on the www.gov.uk website.

Ukraine

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of British citizens in Ukraine.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is regularly reviewing and updating its travel advice for Ukraine. At present, the FCO advises against all travel to Crimea and that all British nationals currently in Crimea should leave immediately. The FCO is unable to provide consular services to any British nationals choosing to remain in Crimea. Given the fast moving events in Ukraine, we advise British nationals to sign up to travel advice alerts to ensure they receive any new information as soon as it is published.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will introduce the Northern Ireland school registration programme to increase voter registration on the UK mainland.

Greg Clark: The Government is implementing a schools registration approach informed by the Northern Ireland Schools initiative.
	£4.2 million funding has been made available to all 363 local authorities and valuation joint boards in Great Britain. Electoral registration officers have been encouraged to use this funding to support the delivery of Rock Enrol! in their area, a learning resource which not only provides an opportunity for young people to register to vote, but enables them to discuss the importance of doing so.

Political Parties

Hilary Benn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what requirements there are for a political party operating in another country which has a branch in the UK to register with the Electoral Commission.

Greg Clark: Political parties are regulated by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA) 2000. Under its provisions, parties that wish to field candidates at elections and have their name appear on the ballot paper must be registered with the Electoral Commission (section 22). There are separate registers for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Returning Officers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (a) how and (b) by whom pay levels for returning officers are set.

Greg Clark: The amounts recoverable by returning officers in respect of services rendered at different national polls vary and have been set out in successive orders. It is the size of the electorate which determines the maximum amounts that returning officers can claim.
	Returning officers are generally entitled to a sum of £475 for every 10,000 electors in their area on a pro rata basis with a minimum of £2,500. This rate has remained unchanged since 2009.
	Any returning officers acting in an additional capacity, such as Regional returning officers at European parliamentary elections or police area returning officers at police and crime commissioner elections, are entitled to recover an additional flat rate amount for their services in co-ordinating the election over a number of local authorities.
	Returning officers are not required to claim the full amount. They can choose not to claim or to claim only part of the amount available. They can also choose to re-distribute some or all of the amount among any deputies and other staff to whom they delegate their duties.

Returning Officers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the 10 most highly-paid returning officers in the UK are paid.

Greg Clark: The amounts recoverable by returning officers in respect of services rendered at different national polls vary and have been set out in successive orders. It is the size of the electorate which determines the maximum amounts that returning officers can claim.
	Any returning officers acting in an additional capacity, such as regional returning officers at European parliamentary elections or police area returning officers at police and crime commissioner elections, are entitled to recover an additional flat rate amount for their services in co-ordinating the election over a number of local authorities.
	Returning officers are not required to claim the full amount. They can choose not to claim or to claim only part of the amount available. They can also choose to re-distribute some or all of the amount among any deputies and other staff to whom they delegate their duties.
	The following table sets out the 10 highest maximum recoverable amounts for services rendered available to returning officers at the 2014 European parliamentary elections. Regional returning officers will be entitled to claim an additional £12,000.
	
		
			  Local authority Region RO fee (£) 
			 1 Birmingham West Midlands 39,564 
			 2 Leeds Yorkshire and Humberside 29,406 
			 3 Glasgow City Scotland 22,300 
			 4 Sheffield Yorkshire and Humberside 20,900 
			 5 Cornwall South West 20,190 
			 6 Manchester North West 19,711 
			 7 County of Durham North East 19,455 
			 8 Bradford Yorkshire and Humberside 18,270 
			 9 Liverpool North West 16,918 
			 10 City of Bristol South West 16,914 
		
	
	It is up local authorities to determine whether or not returning officers are entitled to recover an amount in respect of services rendered at local polls.

Voting Behaviour

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make voting compulsory as a means of increasing voter turnout and engagement.

Greg Clark: The Government has made no such assessment.

CABINET OFFICE

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in each constituency were on the electoral register in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Caron Walker
	In the absence of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question to ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in each constituency were on the electoral register in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 (190819).
	The Office for National Statistics produces electoral statistics using data collected each year for the published annual register. These statistics record the number of people on the electoral register in each constituency who are eligible to vote in Westminster parliamentary elections.
	Electoral statistics based on the annual electoral register for December 2012 (in use during 2013) were published on 28 February 2013 and are available on the ONS website at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pop-estimate/electoral-statistics-for-uk/2012/index.html
	Publication of the latest electoral register (in use during 2014) has been delayed as a result of the transition to individual electoral registration (IER) that is taking place in 2014. Electoral statistics based on this register are provisionally due to be published in May 2014.

Electronic Government

Richard Graham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many people have reported phishing emails purporting to be from a Government department in each year of the last five years; how many such people have been so defrauded; and how many times action has successfully been taken against the sender of such emails;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to identify and remove misleading or fake websites for government services;
	(3)  what action his Department is taking against companies or individuals who set up and profit from fake and or misleading websites for government services;
	(4)  what discussions his Department has had with internet service providers on removing fake or misleading websites for government services.

Nick Hurd: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 28 February 2014, Official Report, column 586W, to the hon. Member for Bradford West (George Galloway).
	Government Digital Service now works cross-government to track the activity of misleading websites or phishing attempts.
	We share this information with Google so that it can identify and take action against websites that add little or no value to existing online Government services. Google will continue to support us by removing those misleading adverts and by closing the accounts of repeat offenders. We are also engaging with other search engine providers.
	We will increasingly be working with BIS, the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) and key trading standards bodies to ensure enforcement action is taken where appropriate.

Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish on his Department's website the minutes of the Fraud Error and Debt Taskforce from June 2013.

Francis Maude: The meeting originally scheduled for June 2013 was postponed.

Government Departments: Procurement

Aidan Burley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many firms in (a) Cannock Chase constituency and (b) Staffordshire have been awarded Government procurement contracts in the last four years.

Nick Hurd: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 16 December 2013, Official Report, column 453W, to the hon. Member for Livingston (Graeme Morrice).

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if his Department will commission a new report on High Speed 2 from the Major Projects Authority and publish it in full before the Second Reading of the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill.

Francis Maude: All projects in the Government's Major Project Portfolio are reviewed at set points in their lifecycle.
	An update on all major projects—including High Speed Two—will be published in the second annual report of the Major Projects Authority.

Internet

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what services his Department provides that are (a) available online only and (b) planned to move to online only.

Nick Hurd: The Government Digital Service is working with other Government Departments and agencies across the country, making 25 of the most significant Government services digital by default. The 25 services being transformed can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/transformation
	A list of all transactions can be found on the Transactions Explorer at:
	https://www.gov.uk/performance
	We recognise that not all users are online, so assisted digital support will be available to those users that need it.

Married People

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of people who were (a) white, (b) white British, (c) Irish, (d) travellers of Irish heritage, (e) Gypsy or Roma, (f) any other white background, (g) white and black Caribbean, (h) black Caribbean, (i) white and black African, (j) white and Asian, (k) any other mixed background, (l) Asian, (m) Pakistani, (n) Bangladeshi, (o) any other Asian background, (p) black, (q) any other black background, (r) Chinese and (s) any other ethnic group were married in each year since 1996.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Caron Walker
	In the absence of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question to ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of people who were (a) white, (b) white British, (c) Irish, (d) travellers of Irish heritage, (e) Gypsy or Roma, (f) any other white background, (g) white and black Caribbean, (h) black Caribbean, (i) white and black African, (j) white and Asian, (k) any other mixed background, (I) Asian, (m) Pakistani, (n) Bangladeshi, (o) any other Asian background, (p) black, (q) any other black background, (r) Chinese and (s) any other ethnic group were married in each year since 1996.
	Marriage statistics for England and Wales are based on the details collected when marriages are solemnised from information recorded in the marriage register. The marriage register does not contain information on ethnicity, nationality or country of birth. Information on nationality is collected by Registrars on marriage notice forms but ONS does not have access to this data. Consequently it is not possible for ONS to provide the figures requested.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce crime and disorder caused by alcohol.

Norman Baker: This coalition Government has already given powers to the police and local authorities to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder. It has overhauled the Licensing Act 2013, giving local areas stronger powers to deal with problem premises. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill will provide frontline professionals with powerful new tools to tackle alcohol related antisocial behaviour. We are also banning the worst cases of cheap and harmful alcohol sales.

Crime Reduction: Private Sector Involvement

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to involve the private sector in crime reduction and prevention.

Karen Bradley: The private sector has a key role to play in crime reduction and prevention. We work closely with business and industry on a wide range of issues, from tackling cyber crime, to reducing metal theft, to encouraging more responsible drinking. The private sector is well represented on Home Office advisory groups, and we have a team to lead our engagement with the security industry and help promote UK industry abroad.

Crime Statistics

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the reliability of crime statistics.

Norman Baker: Police recorded crime figures and the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales both show that crime has fallen by more than 10% under this Government. The coalition Government has made clear that crime statistics must be robust, and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary is carrying out an audit of the quality of crime recording in every police force.

Violent Crime

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to prevent violent crime.

Norman Baker: The coalition Government is taking decisive action to prevent violence, including violence against women, children and vulnerable people, sexual violence and gang and youth violence. As well as preventing violence happening in the first place, we are making sure that victims are supported and perpetrators brought to justice.

Asylum

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what non-statutory discretionary powers she has relating to accepting (a) wider family members and (b) siblings under family reunion applications by refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.

James Brokenshire: The Secretary of State may use her discretion to grant leave outside the rules in certain exceptional circumstances. However, the Immigration Rules provide ample opportunity for the family members of refugees or persons granted humanitarian protection to join them in the UK, which fully meets our international obligations.
	The criteria for refugee family reunion applications are set out in part 11 of the Immigration Rules and allow pre-existing family members (spouse, civil partner or unmarried/same-sex partner, plus any children under 18 who formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled to seek asylum) to apply to be reunited with or to have their leave brought in line with a recognised refugee or of a person granted humanitarian protection in the UK.
	There are also provisions in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules to grant entry clearance to the post-flight partner and children under the age of 18 of a person granted refugee or humanitarian protection in the UK.
	Furthermore, there are provisions in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules to grant entry clearance to adult dependent relatives (parent, grandparent, child or sibling who must be over the age of 18) of a refugee or person with humanitarian protection in the UK.
	Children under the age of 18, who have a close relative in the UK (who is not the child's parent) and that family member has been recognised as a refugee or granted humanitarian protection in the UK, may also apply to join that family member under Part 8 of the Immigration Rules. In such cases serious and compelling family or other considerations as well as other criteria must exist.
	Asylum seekers may not sponsor a family member to enter the UK until they have been granted refugee or humanitarian protection status in the UK.

Drug Seizures: Barrow in Furness

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total value was of illegal drugs seized by police in Barrow and Furness constituency in each of the last five years.

Norman Baker: holding answer 6 March 2014
	The information requested is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

Equality

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2014, Official Report, column 431W, on equality, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was in 2013-14.

Karen Bradley: Information for the financial year 2013-14 will be available in May 2014.

EU Nationals

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of EU migrants who have arrived in the UK for work since 1 January 2014.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Caron Walker, dated March 2014
	In the absence of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of EU migrants who have arrived in the UK for work since 1 January 2014.
	ONS does not have any estimates on the number of EU citizens who have arrived in the UK for work since 1 January 2014.
	Long-term immigration estimates for the number of EU migrants who have arrived in the UK for work are derived from the International Passenger Survey (IPS). The latest estimates are for the year ending September 2013 and show that an estimated 129,000 EU citizens (excluding British) arrived in the UK for work-related reasons, with a margin of error of +/-18,000. The margin of error refers to the 95 per cent confidence interval and is a measure of the uncertainty associated with making inferences from a sample survey.
	Long-term immigration estimates from the IPS for the number of EU citizens who have arrived in the UK for work for the year ending March 2014 will be published on 28 August 2014.
	There are other official data sources which provide information on employment of overseas nationals in the UK:
	Estimates of employment levels by country of birth and nationality from the Labour Force Survey for January to March 2014 will be published on 14 May 2014. These estimates provide information on the total number of EU nationals employed in the UK.
	Data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on allocations of National Insurance Numbers (NINos) to adult overseas nationals for January to March 2014 will be published on 22 May 2014. The number of EU nationals allocated a NINo over a given period is not equivalent to the number of EU nationals arriving in the UK for work as there may be a lag between the migration event and registering for a NINo. Additionally, some EU nationals arriving for work in the UK may already hold a NINo from a previous stay in the UK.

Extradition: USA

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review the UK's extradition treaty with the US to enable the UK to (a) set conditions on extradition, (b) halt extradition until the Government is satisfied the conditions in which suspects will be held will be appropriate and (c) delay extradition until the case is ready for trial in the extraditing country.

James Brokenshire: The UK's extradition treaty with the US was the subject of an independent review led by retired Appeal Court judge, Sir Scott Baker QC, in 2011. The review found that the treaty was fair and balanced. It contains numerous safeguards for the subjects of extradition requests, and these are reflected in the domestic legislation of both states, including, in UK law, the Human Rights Act.

Seized Articles

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seizures of (a) tobacco and cigars, (b) alcohol and (c) drugs were made at (i) Manchester, (ii) London Heathrow, (iii) London Gatwick, (iv) London Stansted, (v) Liverpool, (vi) Newcastle, (vii) Belfast International, (viii) Belfast George Best, (ix) Glasgow, (x) Edinburgh, (xi) Birmingham International, (xii) East Midlands and (xiii) Cardiff airports in each year since 2010; and what the estimated value was of each such seizure.

James Brokenshire: To ensure the integrity and security of the UK border Her Majesty's Government does not comment on port specific statistics.

TRANSPORT

All Party Physical Activity Commission

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish his Department's evidence to the All Party Commission on Physical Activity.

Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport did not submit evidence to the All Party Commission on Physical Activity; this is a policy area led by the Department of Health. ‘Moving More, Living More’—a Government campaign to promote physical activity was launched on 13 February. A copy of this document has been sent to the All Party Commission to set out the Government's approach for a more active nation, and a physical activity legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Buildings

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department is considering vacating Great Minster House.

Stephen Hammond: The lease of Great Minster House expires in 2018. Work to consider options beyond that date has commenced. However, no recommendation has yet been made by officials nor has any decision been taken by Ministers.

Buildings

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has for refurbishment of the reception area of Great Minster House.

Stephen Hammond: Following consolidation of all London-based staff into Great Minster House, the Department is currently working up value for money plans to update the reception and to ensure it meets current accessibility standards.

East Coast Railway Line

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent proposals he has considered for provision by open access train operating companies on the East Coast Mainline; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: Applications for access to the network, including those made by Open Access operators, are considered in the first instance by the independent Office of Rail Regulation and then by Network Rail. This is a matter for them.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been paid to each communication firm for advice on High Speed 2 to date.

Robert Goodwill: The Department and HS2 Ltd have paid the following to external companies for communications advice on HS2 in the period since HS2 Ltd was set up through to March 2014:
	
		
			  £ 
			 DfT  
			 Westbourne Communications Ltd 23,952 
			   
			 HS2 Ltd  
			 AMV/BBDO 75,175 
			 MHP Communications 61,080 
			 Westbourne Communications 422,656

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2014, Official Report, columns 387-8W, on High Speed 2 railway line, which of the Yorkshire local authorities with which he has had meetings and which have responded to the consultation have set out a position (a) supportive of and (b) opposed to High Speed 2; and if he will place in the Library copies of those authorities' consultation responses.

Robert Goodwill: Since the previous answer of 26 February 2014, Official Report, columns 387-88W, on High Speed 2 railway line, responses to the HS2 Phase Two consultation have now been received from York city council, Sheffield city council, Kirklees council, Rotherham metropolitan council and Wakefield council. In line with previous consultations on HS2, HS2 Ltd will publish a report summarising the responses received to the consultation as part of the advice to the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), in taking his decision. The decision on Phase Two of HS2 is due to be taken by the end of the year.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what payments have been made to Greengauge 21 by (a) his Department and (b) HS2 Ltd since 1 January 2011; and what the purposes of those payments were.

Stephen Hammond: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Department has made no payments to Greengauge 21 since 1 January 2011.
	(b) HS2 Ltd has made payments totalling £3,850.00 to Greengauge 21 since 1 January 2011, these were for technical consultancy.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list (a) the contracts, (b) the value of those contracts and (c) payments made between (i) his Department and (ii) HS2 Ltd and (A) Alstom, (B) Atkins, (C) Bechtel, (D) CH2M Hill, (E) Hitachi, (F) Keolis, (G) Parsons Brinckerhoff, (H) the Rail Industry Association (I) Siemens and (J) the University of Birmingham.

Stephen Hammond: The following table (Table 1) provides details of live contracts and their contract values between DfT(c) and HS2 with the listed organisations.
	
		
			 Table 1: Current DfT (c) and HS2 contracts with contract values for the named organisations 
			   DfT C HS2 
			   (a) Contract description (b) Value of contracts (£) (a) Contract description (b) Value of contracts (£) 
			 A Alstom 1—  1—  
			 B Atkins TUBA/INCA/WITA Software User Support2 — Lot 1 Country South Design 19,156,523 
			  Atkins Peer Review of Airports Commission Project 12,605 Modelling Services—HS2 Forecast Update (WP4) 174,510 
			  Atkins Mata Analysis of Local Major Scheme Evaluations 32,268 Modelling Services—Network Assumptions Update (WP5) 589,448 
			  Atkins eCall UK Report and Impact Assessment 2013 27,886 Lot 3 Country North EIAC 20,458,683 
			  Atkins NTM Futures Experience and Technical Support 49,945 Analytical support for the preparation of a public consultation on the route between London and Birmingham 1,318,367 
			  Atkins Research project to improve the valuation of the benefits of smart and integrated ticketing on public transport 153,294 Professional services to update the PFM Base Matrices 289,590 
			  Atkins Highways and Transportation Framework agreement for consultancy support to the Road Pricing Framework Division's road pricing programme 32,000,000 Professional services to update EMME 56,206 
			  Atkins Ltd DIADEM Software User Support 60,546 Edge Runs 26,130 
			  Atkins Ltd Framework for transport related technical and engineering advice and research — Carbon Model Audit 18,792 
			  Atkins Ltd Low carbon truck trial 190,633 Request for proposal: Developing and Approach to the Planning and Appraisal of Options for HS2 1,240,488 
			  Atkins/Aecom Maximising regeneration benefits of HS2 18,950 HS2 West Midlands Strategic Transport Modelling SATURN 70,000 
			  Atkins/Aecom Space Weather Events and Rail Resilience 50,550 MACAF Lot 2 WP6_Scenarios Framework 71,700 
			  Atkins/AECOM SP Lot 2 and 3 T-TEAR Technical Adviser - ITSO on Prestige 41,846 LUTI Modelling 296,485 
			  ATKINS/AECOM Strategic Partnership East West Rail Business Case 108,960   
			 C Bechtel 1—  1—  
			 D CH2M 1—  Development Partner Contract 35,082,619 
			 E Hitachi 1—  1—  
			 F Keolis 1—  1—  
			 G Parsons Brinckerhoff Manual Traffic Counting for England, Scotland and Wales. National Road Traffic Census 14/15 and 15/16 13,600,000 212 Contract no. F012 Professional Services Framework — 
			   1—  Lot 2 High Speed Railway Systems 9,368,146 
			   1—  Lot 2 Conventional Railway Systems 4,581,894 
			  Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd Framework for transport related technical and engineering advice and research —   
			  Parsons Brinckerhoff/WSP Technical Adviser Support —Ticketless Travel Survey 56,609   
			  Parsons Brinckerhoff/WSP UK JV Lot 3 High Speed 2 Project Representative 6,000,000   
			 H The railway Industry Association 1—  1—  
			 1 Seimens 1—  1—  
			 J The University of Birmingham 1—  1—  
			 1 No contracts. 2 This is a “time only” continuation of a contract that has ended at no additional cost. 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the procurement expenditure with the listed organisations for the last complete financial year (2012-13) for DfT (c) and HS2Ltd.
	
		
			 Table 2 
			 £ 
			   (c )Value of payments made 
			   Dft C HS2 
			 A Alstom Transport — — 
			 B Atkins Ltd 1,248,035.13 18,229,182.43 
			 C Bechtel — — 
			 D CH2M (UK) Ltd — 17,002,481.83 
			 E Hitachi — — 
			 F Keolis — — 
			 G Parsons Brinckerhoff 1,913,708.90 6,529,288.44 
			 H The Railway Industry Association — — 
			 I Siemens 737,606.40 — 
			 J The University of Birmingham — —

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contracts there are between (a) his Department, (b) HS2 Ltd and (c) non-departmental public bodies and Steer Davies Gleave; and what the values of those contracts are.

Stephen Hammond: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Department currently has one live contract with Steer Davies Gleave for "Bikeability (Cycle Training) support" with a value of £1,500,000.
	(b) HS2 has one live contract with Steer Davies Gleave for “Social and distributional impact analysis” with a contract value of £143,220.
	(c) The Department's Agencies and arm's length bodies have no live contracts with Steer Davies Gleave.

Internet

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what services his Department provides that are (a) available online only and (b) planned to move to online only.

Stephen Hammond: The information is as follows:
	(a) The only Department for Transport services that are exclusively digital are:
	Transport Direct, which is an online journey planner;
	driver CPC training records upload and inquiry. The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence is a qualification for professional bus, coach and lorry drivers;
	delegated examiner practical driving test notification. A delegated examiner is a person appointed to conduct driving tests not employed by DVSA e.g. MOD, emergency services; and
	electronic information services for HGV/PSV operators, fleet maintainers, leasing companies and manufacturers.
	(b) There are no plans to move any current services to an exclusively online channel.

M1

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  for what reason he did not require the work currently being carried out on the M1 motorway between junctions 28 and 32 to be phased in smaller sections so as to reduce congestion and delays; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects junctions 28 to 32 of the M1 motorway in both directions to be devoid of all roadworks and lane closures; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Goodwill: The work that is currently being carried out on the M1 in this location involves new central reserve drainage and concrete barrier in preparation for the planned smart motorway scheme between M1 J28 to J31.
	In planning the works, the option of breaking construction into a number of smaller sequential phases was considered, however this would have the impact of prolonging the overall duration of construction and therefore the length of time over which disruption would be experienced.
	The current works are planned to continue into the start of construction for the proposed M1 J28 to J31 smart motorways project and M1 J31 to J32 Pinch Point scheme. Subject to completion of the necessary statutory processes, both schemes are planned to complete by spring 2015.

Motorways: Speed Limits

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider introducing variable temporary speed limits on stretches of motorway where roadworks are taking place so that such temporary speed limits are not artificially low during times of light traffic use.

Robert Goodwill: The Highways Agency will be considering the impact of introducing variable temporary speed limits on stretches of motorways where road works are taking place as part of an ongoing programme of research and possible trials.
	Variable speed limits in road works may be considered appropriate in certain circumstances but we must keep in mind the primary objective of temporary traffic management which is to maximise the safety of road workers as well as the travelling public.

Ports

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the opening of sea routes through the North West Passage on ports in the UK.

Stephen Hammond: The Arctic is an area of increasing importance for maritime transport. Both the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route will offer significantly shorter travelling distances between Europe and Asia later in the 21st Century if the Arctic warming trend continues at its current rate.
	While the Government has not carried out a dedicated study of the future effect on UK ports, the Government believes that the UK ports and shipping industries, together with the wider maritime cluster, are generally well placed to take advantage of any commercial opportunities that expansion of Arctic shipping may present in the short term.
	The Government intends to keep under review, in the longer term, whether there is anything that it is best placed to do, in order both to facilitate worthwhile trade opportunities and to help ensure that this is done with due regard to the environment.

Railways: Tickets

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the strands of the South East Flexible Ticketing project are; what the budget and relevant train operating company is for each such strand; when he expects the competition for the flexible ticketing trial for part-time workers to commence; when the outcome of that competition will be announced; when he expects that trial to begin; and how long the trial will last.

Stephen Hammond: The South East Flexible Ticketing programme (SEFT) aims to deliver flexible smart ticketing across London and the South East, working in partnership with TfL and the train operators. In terms of delivery 'strands', these include station infrastructure, back office systems, testing and integration, core products, and other 'soft factors' such as training and marketing in order to deliver a consistent passenger proposition.
	The geographic scope of the programme is yet to be finalised but will include all of the train operators which run passenger services into London, namely:
	c2c
	Greater Anglia
	East Coast
	First Capital Connect
	East Midland Trains
	London Midland
	Virgin West Coast
	Chiltern
	First Great Western
	South West Trains
	Southern
	Southeastern
	The total budget for the programme is £45 million. Until the geographic scope is finalised it is not yet possible to estimate what proportion of that will be spent on each part of the rail network.
	The competition for the flexible ticketing trial is currently scheduled to commence later in 2014 by issuing requests for proposal to all train operators that are signatories to the SEFT scheme. We expect to announce a winning bidder in sufficient time to commence the trial in January 2015. The trial is expected to last for a year.

Railways: Tickets

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the criteria for success will be of the flexible ticketing trial for part-time workers and how success will be measured; and if he will include a requirement for flexible ticketing for part-time workers in all future franchise agreements in the event that the trial is successful.

Stephen Hammond: The criteria for success for the flexible ticketing trial will be: a robust trial which obtains quality assured data; analysis built from that data that shows what impact the trial has had on passenger behaviour and what wider conclusions may be drawn from this.
	Those conclusions will help to inform the future decisions that will need to be made regarding what should be required by way of flexible ticketing in future franchise agreements.

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on whether other EU member states have expressed concern about risks to connectivity arising from the financial costs of compliance with the International Maritime Organisation emissions regulations due to come into force on 1 January 2015; and whether the Government has discussed this matter with the governments of other EU member states.

Stephen Hammond: We are not aware that other EU member states have identified ‘risks to connectivity’. However, other EU member states have expressed concerns about the high economic cost of compliance with the sulphur limits contained in the International Maritime Organization's MARPOL Annex VI and the EU sulphur content of marine fuels directive (Directive 2012/33/EU). The UK has participated in discussions on the issue which have taken place in EU forums.

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will take steps to mitigate any potential damage to the UK's connectivity arising from the financial costs of compliance with the International Maritime Organisation emissions regulations due to come into force on 1 January 2015, insofar as it is practical to do so;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of whether ferry services within and to the UK may be at risk of closure as the result of the implementation of the International Maritime Organisation emissions regulations due to come into force on 1 January 2015.

Stephen Hammond: I have chaired two “round table' meetings for stakeholders from a range of industries—shipping, ports, abatement technology, oil refining, logistics—to discuss the way forward on sulphur. As part of the work to follow up these meetings, the UK Chamber of Shipping commissioned a study by the consultants AMEC entitled ‘Impact on jobs and the economy of meeting the requirements of MARPOL Annex VI’ which the Chamber of Shipping released early in March 2013.
	The evidence about potential route closures from this and other relevant studies will be incorporated into the Department's Impact Assessment on the new sulphur requirements, which will be published in the next few weeks. Our assessment will also consider the economic cost to the UK as well as the benefits in terms of improved public health and reduced damage to the environment.
	The Government has been looking at ways of helping industries to comply with the new sulphur requirements. We are exploring the scope for securing EU finance, possibly under the Trans-European Network (TEN-T) programme and affordable capital from the European Investment Bank, for shipowners and ports who would like to invest in using an abatement technology (exhaust gas cleaning systems) or an alternative fuel—such as liquefied natural gas.

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what progress the UK has made in gaining time-limited exemptions from the International Maritime Organisation emissions regulations due to come into force on 1 January 2015; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  for what reason the UK has decided not to seek to apply time-limited exemptions from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) emissions regulations due to come into force on 1 January 2015 in respect of specific vessels and routes, reporting such exemptions to the IMO for recording.

Stephen Hammond: The UK is subject to the Sulphur content of marine fuels Directive (Directive 2012/33/EU) which substantially aligns European legislation with the International Maritime Organisation's own rules. The directive does not permit such an exemption.

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response his Department has received from the European Commission to its representations on potential shortage of marine fuel supplies arising from the implementation of the International Maritime Organisation emissions regulations due to come into force on 1 January 2015.

Stephen Hammond: We are not aware of any problems with the availability of 0.1% sulphur fuel for shipowners. However, the UK is actively working in the International Maritime Organisation to take forward a review of the availability in 2020 of 0.5% sulphur fuel.

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of potential changes to the level of charges to passengers and vehicle owners on ferry services arising from the implementation of the International Maritime Organisation emissions regulations due to come into force on 1 January 2015.

Stephen Hammond: The Department has developed an impact assessment to accompany the forthcoming public consultation on the emission regulations. As part of this consultation we will be seeking further information about the costs and benefits to the public including the impact on ferry services.

Transport: Per Capita Costs

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the level of funding per head of the population for transport in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber, (c) London and (d) England.

Stephen Hammond: The most recent data available for total public expenditure on transport is given in HM Treasury's Country and Regional Analysis 2013. This is identifiable expenditure on services, including transport, by function, country and region per head. Spend is not broken down below regional level.
	In 2012-13, identifiable expenditure on transport was £83 per head in Yorkshire and Humber, £184 per head in London and £90 per head in England.
	The Department for Transport is not the only public body responsible for transport and a large proportion of expenditure is covered by local government bodies. Expenditure upon major infrastructure projects is distributed throughout the geographical spread of the UK's supply chain.

INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE

IPSA Contingency Panel

Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the membership is of the IPSA Contingency Panel.

Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
	Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated March 2013
	As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about the IPSA Contingency Panel.
	The Panel is chaired by the Director of Policy and Communications. Other members of the panel are the Director of Finance and Operations (or a representative), the Head of Validation and MP Support, the Head of Payroll, the Head of Policy and the Policy Manager. Others will attend according to the topics being discussed.

Matrix Chambers

David Davis: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what procurement process was conducted by IPSA in advance of the decision to engage Matrix Chambers to prepare and advise on High Court action in May 2013 in respect of their case against the hon. Member for Peterborough; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Walker: The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Members' Staff

Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how many hon. Members have been provided with additional funds by IPSA to cover increased staffing costs as a consequence of dealing with higher demand for assistance from constituents in 2013-14 to date.

Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
	Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated March 2013
	As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about increased staffing expenditure budgets.
	There have been no MPs who have received higher staffing expenditure budgets as a result of increased demand for assistance from constituents in 2013-14. A small number of MPs have received increased budgets this year as a result of commitments entered into before this financial year.

Members' Staff

Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what estimate IPSA has made of the amount in staffing budgets for hon. Members which will not be claimed by the end of the current financial year.

Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
	Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated March 2013
	As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about MPs' staffing budgets.
	If all MPs were to spend up to the limit for staffing expenditure in 2013-14 set out in the ‘MPs' Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses’, then the total expenditure by MPs on staffing costs in this financial year would be £89.8 million. Our estimate for 2013-14, however, includes provisions for £78.2 million on MPs' staffing. We expect this to be fully spent by the end of the financial year.

Staff

Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what total amount was paid in overtime payments to IPSA staff in the first nine months of 2013-14.

Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
	Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated March 2013
	As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about overtime paid to IPSA staff.
	From April to December 2013, £4,567 was paid in overtime to IPSA staff.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress his Department has made in banning the use of wild animals in circuses by 2015.

George Eustice: I refer the hon. Members to the answer given on 6 March 2014, Official Report, column 979W.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice he has received on distinguishing between infected and uninfected badgers; and what account his Department took of this advice in conducting the badger cull pilots.

George Eustice: The aim of the pilot badger culls was to test assumptions on the effectiveness (in terms of badger removal), humaneness and safety of controlled shooting. Therefore no advice was received on distinguishing between infected and uninfected badgers.
	Identifying badgers infected with M. bovis was one of the elements investigated during the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, giving us evidence on the typical prevalence of TB in badgers in areas of high TB incidence, and were not repeated during the pilots.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Republic of Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Republic of Ireland on the effectiveness of that country's programme of humanely destroying badgers in reducing the incidence of bovine TB.

George Eustice: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), visited the Republic of Ireland in May 2013 to observe the Irish approach to bovine TB eradication. Since then, DEFRA officials have kept up a regular dialogue with their Irish counterparts.

Bovine Tuberculosis: South West

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish figures on the number of badgers culled in total in the Gloucestershire and Somerset pilots.

George Eustice: I would like to refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statements made by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), on 3 November 2013, Official Report, column 10WS and 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 33WS.

Databases

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency became aware of the failure regarding the SAM IT system.

George Eustice: I was made aware of the nature of the problems and the implications for our monthly publication of bovine TB statistics on 14 January 2014, when the impact on the published bovine TB national statistics became clear. AHVLA first became aware in mid-December 2013 that there were possible discrepancies with the records of herds designated as not officially TB Free—well after the badger cull pilots had concluded. Subsequent investigations by AHVLA led to notification of DEFRA officials on 18 December 2013. The extent of the problems and full impact on the published statistics were not fully understood until mid-January 2014.

Dogs: Diseases

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of how many dogs in the UK have distemper; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of that condition.

George Eustice: There is no legal obligation for owners of dogs with distemper, nor the veterinary surgeons involved in treating any affected dogs to notify the Government. No statistics are therefore collected on how many dogs have distemper. DEFRA has no plans to intervene in the control of the disease and an effective vaccine is readily available to protect dogs from an early age.

Environment Agency

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Environment Agency’s annual regional revenue budget was in each year for which data is available; and what estimate he has made of such budgets in each of the next three years.

Dan Rogerson: The following tables show revenue spend across Environment Agency defined regions for 2008-09 to 2012-13.
	
		
			 Table 1: Environment and Business Grant (E&B) grant in aid (GiA) revenue 
			 £ million 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Anglian 14 16 13 21 18 
			 Midlands 21 23 18 20 19 
			 Yorkshire and North East 18 20 14 19 24 
			 North West 19 20 14 18 17 
			 South East 33 37 31 50 30 
			 South West 16 17 13 14 13 
			 Total E&B GiA revenue 122 133 104 142 120 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management GiA revenue 
			 £ million 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Anglian 52 43 48 50 51 
			 Midlands 41 42 49 52 36 
			 Yorkshire and North East 32 39 40 44 36 
			 North West 27 28 35 31 32 
			 South East 65 77 82 84 80 
			 South West 32 30 37 27 33 
			 Total FCERM GiA revenue 250 260 292 288 268 
		
	
	The Environment Agency is under consultation to move to a national-area model for allocating budgets, hence a regional split of future revenue budgets is not available.

Environment Agency

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what projections his Department has made of the number of staff that will be employed by the Environment Agency in each of the next three years.

Dan Rogerson: The current priority is flood incident response. Beyond this, the Environment Agency will assess its structure to ensure it has an affordable business structure. Initial planning assumptions, that were previously shared with staff, will be reviewed to reflect additional flood risk management funding.

Floods

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when national flooding exercises have taken place in order to test arrangements which Government departments have put into place to deal with flooding and infrastructure emergencies in the last five years.

Dan Rogerson: Exercise Watermark was the largest civil flood preparedness exercise ever run in England and Wales, and took place in March 2011. It involved UK Government Departments, the Welsh Government, Government agencies, emergency responders, businesses and communities testing the country's response to groundwater, surface water, reservoir, river and coastal flooding.

Floods

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Environment Agency has yet provided a specialised site-specific flood warning service for infrastructure operators in order to offer longer lead times and greater levels of detail about the velocity and depth of flooding.

Dan Rogerson: Following a successful pilot between the Environment Agency and Western Power Distribution in 2009-10, a new web-based flood warning service for Civil Contingency Act Category 1 and 2 responders went live in September 2011.
	The service enables responders to match Environment Agency flood warning areas and live warnings with their own asset data that they upload for sites they have identified as vulnerable to flooding.
	An asset could be anything they wish, such as a sewage treatment works, telephone exchange, an office or depot.
	As of March 2014, over 70 responders have registered for the service.

Floods

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Environment Agency now works with local responders to raise awareness in flood risk areas and identifies a range of mechanisms to warn the public in response to flooding.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency works closely with local responders to raise awareness and to warn the public of the risk of flooding.
	Examples of this activity include:
	A training programme was delivered to ensure all local responders understand and respond appropriately to the flood forecasting and warning services of the Flood Forecasting Centre and the Environment Agency;
	A 'Floodwise' campaign was run between April 2009 and September 2012, during which 875,000 people were informed about their flood risk. As a result 75,000 people checked their flood risk; 34,000 people signed up to the flood warning service; 8,500 people completed personal flood plans and 672 communities developed community flood plans (covering over 300,000 people);
	Since 2012 locally focused flood awareness campaigns have been run each year. These are co-ordinated through Environment Agency Community Engagement Officers, who consult and work with Local Resilience Forum partners to raise awareness of risk and get communities to prepare for flooding;
	Targeted campaigns have also been run with communities living in rapidly responsive catchments and with caravan and campsite owners in high flood risk areas; and
	The Floodline telephone service has been improved so that local authorities are able to provide their own standard response information for callers to the Floodline service.

Floods: Insurance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many households were uninsurable against flooding in each of the last 10 years.

Dan Rogerson: We do not hold figures on the number of properties that were uninsurable against flooding over the past 10 years.
	The Government is introducing a flood reinsurance scheme (Flood Re), to ensure the provision of affordable insurance to properties at high risk of flooding.

Floods: Insurance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether the insurance industry has developed and implemented industry guidance for flooding events, covering reasonable expectations of the performance of insurers and reasonable actions by customers;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of whether insurance notices now include information on flood risk and the simple steps that can be taken to mitigate the effects in flood risk areas;
	(3)  what steps his Department and the insurance industry have taken to deliver a public education programme setting out the benefits of insurance in the context of flooding.

Dan Rogerson: Action on the issue was completed and reported as such in the Government's Final Progress Report on implementing the recommendations made by the Pitt Review, published in January 2012.

Floods: Property Development

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward building regulations to require that all new or refurbished buildings in high flood-risk areas are flood resistant or resilient.

Stephen Williams: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
	For new build, national planning policy is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided. Where development is necessary, it should be made safe and resilient—and without increasing flood risk elsewhere. Mitigation measures such as land raising, landscaping, raised thresholds and re-arranging the internal uses of buildings, can sometimes make development acceptable in such areas. Such measures can be made a requirement of any planning consent by the local authority.
	The statutory guidance for England contained in “Approved Document C (Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture)” which supports the building regulations also promotes the use of flood resilience and resistance measures in flood prone areas. The document references the guidance produced jointly by the Department for Communities and Local Government, DEFRA and the Environment Agency—“Improving the flood performance of new buildings—Flood resilient construction”. Much of the information is applicable to resilient repair as well as new build. We have no immediate plans to change the guidance, but we will be keeping this under review.

Floods: Staffordshire

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what flood prevention measures have been undertaken in (a) Cannock Chase constituency and (b) Staffordshire in the last three years; and how many staff of (i) his Department and (ii) the Environment Agency have been employed on those measures.

Dan Rogerson: In the Cannock Chase constituency, the majority of flood prevention measures have been maintenance works to the Ridings Brook flood defences. These protect 100 properties in Cannock. These works include de-silting culverts, repairing the flood balancing reservoir at Mill Green and installing CCTV cameras to enable the situation on site to be constantly monitored during floods.
	In Staffordshire, construction is continuing on the Lower Tame flood defence scheme in Fazeley and Tamworth. The section protecting the Coton area of the town was completed last autumn and protects 297 properties. Construction in the Fazeley area of the town is ongoing, but is programmed for completion this spring. It will protect a further 216 properties. Major improvements to a culvert in Elford were completed last year to further protect 47 properties.
	Other smaller flood defence schemes have been undertaken in Forsbrook, Mayfield, Burton on Trent, Tutbury and Newcastle under Lyme and there have been improvements made to pumping stations in Branston, Moreton, Elford and Armitage. The Environment Agency is progressing work on a further six schemes in the county and the Lead Local Flood Authority (Staffs county council) is currently developing 14 schemes.
	It is not possible to directly attribute staff numbers to works in Cannock Chase constituency or Staffordshire as work is spread across teams covering a much larger area. However, it is estimated that the Environment Agency has 14 field-based staff maintaining and improving defences in Staffordshire supported by four office-based staff planning this work. There are a further five office-based staff involved in developing new schemes or reducing flood risk through their work with developers and planners. Staffordshire county council currently has four full-time staff managing flood risk.
	There are no DEFRA staff working on flood risk management who work specifically on flood prevention measures in Cannon Chase constituency or Staffordshire.

Floods: York

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to his Department's announcement of 6 February 2014 on new flood defence schemes, what proportion of that funding will be allocated to (a) the York area and (b) York Outer constituency.

Dan Rogerson: In 2014-15 £9,000 grant in aid was allocated to the Outgang Lane Culvert Improvement scheme, which is in the York Outer constituency. The details of the allocations are published on the Environment Agency's website.

Food: Crime

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if his Department and the Food Standards Authority will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce greater maximum penalties for those convicted of food crime in the UK.

George Eustice: Penalties for food crime should be effective, proportionate and dissuasive to help maintain public confidence in the regulatory system that protects consumers and ensures that the food we eat is safe. The penalty for food crime can range from a number of interventions, such as advice or a formal written notice, through to a suspension of operations or criminal prosecutions for the most serious offences such as fraud.
	Sentencing is a matter for the courts who determine the sentences to take account of the circumstances of each case. Following an approach from the Food Standards Agency the Sentencing Council is considering whether there may be an opportunity to provide sentencing guidelines for food and feed hygiene offences as part of its future programme of work.

Forests

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to increase commercial coniferous forest planting; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: As forestry is a devolved issue, tree planting and woodland creation plans are a separate matter for each of the devolved Administrations.
	In England the Government's Forestry and Woodland Policy Statement, published last year, set out our aspirations to increase woodland cover in England to 12% by 2060, representing an average planting rate of 5,000 ha per year. This will be dependent on landowners choosing to plant trees, including conifers, where it best suits them and their local conditions and priorities. Woodland creation is supported by the Rural Development Programme for England and we are looking at how we will continue to support woodland creation in the next programme.

Forests

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the proportion of UK forests that are under sustainable management.

Dan Rogerson: Forestry is a devolved issue. The Forestry Commission publishes a range of forestry statistics for the UK that are available on its website at:
	www.forestry.gov.uk/statistics
	In England, the Forestry Commission's headline performance indicator for woodland in active management, updated and published in December 2013, was 54%. It is reasonable to assume that woodland in active management is also being managed sustainably. In addition it is known that some sustainably managed woodland is not captured in the recording of woodland in active management so 54% will be an underestimate.

Forests

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to protect ancient woods in (a) the UK and (b) South Staffordshire.

Dan Rogerson: A number of measures are in place to protect woodland in England, including South Staffordshire. The National Planning Policy Framework states that planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodland and the loss of aged or veteran trees found outside ancient woodland, unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss.
	In addition, all tree felling is controlled by the Forestry Commissioners in accordance with the felling regulations under the Forestry Act 1967 (as amended). Additionally, many woods are subject to further controls because they are within designated areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest or Special Areas of Conservation.
	Other measures to protect woodland, such as Tree Preservation Orders, are available to local authorities in South Staffordshire and throughout England.
	I am not aware of any specific measures being taken to preserve ancient woodland in South Staffordshire, other than those previously mentioned.

Incinerators: EU Law

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions have taken place under the Waste Incineration Directive in each year since 2007.

Dan Rogerson: The figures for prosecutions are for breaches of environmental permit conditions that relate to the requirements of the Waste Incineration Directive under the relevant UK legislation. Prior to April 2008 the Waste Incineration Directive was implemented through the Pollution and Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000.lt is currently implemented through the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010.
	
		
			 Prosecutions for offences relating to the Waste Incineration Directive 
			  Total 
			 2007 0 
			 2008 0 
			 2009 1 
			 2010 3 
			 2011 2 
			 2012 3 
			 2013 2 
			 Total 11 
		
	
	The figures from 2007—April 2013 are for England and Wales and the figure from April 2013 to date is for England only. These include prosecutions by the Environment Agency and local authorities.

Land Drainage

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sustainable drainage systems in reducing the risk of, and damage caused by, flooding.

Dan Rogerson: Sir Michael Pitt's review of the 2007 floods contained recommendations to increase the uptake of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to reduce the risk of flooding.
	The impact assessment for the legislation required to implement SuDS measures set out in schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 was recently assessed as fit for purpose1 by the independent Regulatory Policy Committee. Based on Environment Agency and Foresight research, the assessment assumed SuDS measures reduce flood damages related to new development by 30% as a high-level average.

Rural Areas: Broadband

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many projects have been granted funding under the Rural Community Broadband Fund; how many projects under this fund are under consideration for funding; how many such projects have been declined; and how many homes have been connected under this scheme to date.

Dan Rogerson: Under the Rural Community Broadband Fund, two projects have been granted funding and are in delivery. Three projects have been given pre-contract approval and a further 16 projects are under consideration for funding. 46 expressions of interest (first stage applications) have been declined. Total premises connected will be reported to DEFRA on completion of the projects.

Rural Areas: Broadband

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the £20 million funding allocation for the Rural Community Broadband Fund will be spent by March 2015; and how much of the fund he estimates will be returned to the European Union fund from which it was granted.

Dan Rogerson: It is not possible to specify how much of the funding allocation will be spent by March 2015, but projects under the fund totalling £15.5 million have been granted funding or are under consideration. Where possible, any remaining EU funds will be utilised elsewhere across the Rural Development Programme for England.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Absent Voting

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the changes to voter turnout as a result of their proposed changes to the handling of postal ballots.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has not yet made any estimate of possible changes to turnout as a result of its proposal that campaigners at elections and referendums in the UK should not be involved in the process of assisting other people in completing postal or proxy vote applications or handling postal ballot packs.
	The commission expects to consider any evidence about possible changes to turnout as part of its discussions on changes to its Code of Conduct for Campaigners with political parties, returning officers and electoral registration officers. This will include discussing additional steps that returning officers and electoral registration officers could take to help electors complete and return application forms and postal ballot packs.

Absent Voting

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what discussions the Electoral Commission has had with hon. Members about their proposed changes to the handling of postal ballots.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it intends to discuss changes to its Code of Conduct for Campaigners with political parties and other campaigners including Members of Parliament, as well as Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers. These changes include proposals that campaigners at elections and referendums in the UK should not be involved in the process of assisting other people in completing postal or proxy vote applications or handling postal ballot packs.
	The Commission will encourage campaigners to commit to following a revised Code of Conduct for Campaigners for elections after 2014, including the May 2015 UK parliamentary general election. It will make public details of which parties and campaigners have agreed to follow the Code.

Absent Voting: Fraud

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many successful convictions for postal ballot fraud there were in each region and constituent part of the UK in each year for which data is held.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me the Commission has been working with the UK's Association of Chief Police Officers to collect data on electoral fraud since 2007. The Commission is also aware of additional cases of alleged electoral fraud relating to elections since 2002.
	The Commission included details about successful convictions for electoral fraud offences in an evidence and issues paper published in May 2013, including six cases of postal voting fraud.
	The following table shows the year, electoral event, offence and details of the convicted offenders for each of these cases.
	
		
			  Election Allegations Identity of offender(s) Outcome 
			 2003 Guildford borough council Forged signature on postal ballot packs in local election Conservative party candidate Conviction: 4-month custodial sentence 
			      
			 2004 Burnley borough council Conspiracy to defraud Returning Officer—via fraudulent proxy vote applications for and all-postal vote local election One Liberal Democrat party candidate and one Liberal Democrat party councillor Convictions: both offenders received 18-month custodial sentences 
			      
			 2004 Peterborough borough council Fraudulent applications for postal votes and postal vote forgery in local election Two Labour party candidates and local Labour party secretary Convictions: One candidate received 9-month custodial sentence; one candidate received a 4-month custodial sentence; party secretary received a 15-month custodial sentence 
			   Forgery on postal ballots in local election Three Conservative party candidates Convictions: Custodial sentences of 5, 3 and 2 months 
			      
			 2005 Bradford West UK parliamentary constituency False applications to vote by post at UK parliamentary election Two Conservative party councillors and three other individuals Convictions: Two councillors received custodial sentences of 21 months each; two other offenders also received custodial sentences of 21 months each; one other offender received a custodial sentence of 11 months 
			      
			 2007 Slough borough council False applications to register to vote and false applications to vote by post in local election Conservative party candidate and five of his supporters Convictions: Candidate and one other offender received custodial sentences of 3.5 years each; other offenders each received custodial sentences of four years, 18 months, 8 months and 4 months 
			      
			 2011 Ashford borough council False applications to vote by post and false signatures on a nomination paper in local election Conservative party candidate Conviction: Offender received 12-month custodial sentence

Elections

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how much the Electoral Commission has spent on research into (a) voter registration and postal ballot fraud and (b) under registration in each of the last six years; and what future research is planned for each.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that they have spent the following on research:
	
		
			 Financial year Voter registration and postal ballot fraud (£) Under registration (£) 
			 2013-14 58,100 190,933 
			 2012-13 0 112,000 
			 2011-12 0 255,000 
			 2010-11 0 0 
			 2009-10 0 264,880 
			 2008-09 0 0 
		
	
	The Commission also asks regular questions about the public's perceptions of electoral fraud on its post-election and tracker surveys but the cost of these specific questions cannot be separated.
	The Commission intends to conduct an additional research project related to fraud during 2014. This will focus on identifying whether certain demographic or cultural factors mean that specific communities are more vulnerable to electoral fraud.
	The Commission also has a stated research programme associated with the introduction of individual electoral registration which will include assessments of under registration. The next of these studies will take place in 2014 with a further study in 2016 or 2017.

Elections: ICT

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the role of new technology in improving voter (a) registration and (b) turnout.

Gary Streeter: The Commission informs me that it strongly supports online voter registration, which will be introduced as part of the transition to individual electoral registration in Great Britain from June 2014. The Commission hopes that online voter registration will improve the accessibility of the electoral registration process, including among young people and overseas electors, and will monitor its effectiveness in improving voter registration.
	The Commission evaluated a number of electronic voting pilot schemes which took place at English local government elections between 2002 and 2007. The Commission concluded that while remote electronic voting improved convenience for some voters, overall the pilot schemes had a minimal impact on turnout. The majority of those voting electronically indicated that they were likely to have voted in any case by another method.
	The Commission has recommended that new electronic voting technologies should not be pursued further until their security, reliability and cost-effectiveness have been fully tested and assessed.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what proportion of the Electoral Commission's (a) budget, (b) personnel and (c) time is allocated to (i) increasing registration of previously unregistered voters and (ii) combating electoral registration fraud.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not collect its management information in such a way that it can provide exactly the information requested.
	However, the Commission can confirm that it does a significant amount of work to raise awareness among voters of the need to register.
	For its work in this area, the Commission employs a campaigns team of five staff (4.5 fte), with a budget of £204,000. This team leads on all of the Commission's public awareness campaigns. The additional budget for each specific public awareness campaign varies depending on the poll or the registration event that is taking place. For example, the public awareness campaign to support the introduction of individual electoral registration (IER) costs £8.765 million between 2013-14 and 2015-16 and the campaign for the May 2015 elections is expected to cost £3.09 million.
	The Commission has also carried out voter registration research in previous years and has allocated a budget of £85,000 in 2013-14 for this work. The Commission expect this to continue in future years.
	The Commission also supports electoral registration officers (EROs) by providing guidance and resources and by targeting its performance standards to help ensure that they understand the particular challenges in their registration area, and are taking steps to address these.
	The majority of this work is delivered by the Commission's Guidance and Performance team and staff from its Scotland, Wales and English regional offices. These staff have a range of other responsibilities and their time spent on electoral registration and fraud is estimated to cost £365,000 per year.
	On electoral registration fraud, the Commission also provides guidance to electoral registration officers and police forces, collects and analyses data about allegations of electoral registration fraud, and monitors policy and legislation. The Commission's work in this area is led by its electoral policy team, and the relevant staff cost is estimated at £57,000 per year.
	In addition, the Commission carries out research relating to electoral registration fraud, including collecting data from police forces about cases. The overall amount spent on this research is estimated as £10,000 per year.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what progress the Electoral Commission has made in increasing voter registration rates; and if he will make a statement.

Gary Streeter: Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for maintaining the electoral register in their local areas. The Electoral Commission supports them in this work in a number of ways, including by targeting its performance standards to help ensure that they understand the particular challenges in their registration area and develop plans to address these and improve registration rates.
	The Electoral Commission also runs campaigns to raise public awareness about the need for voters to register in advance of each electoral event. In advance of the elections this May, the Commission will run a campaign encouraging people to register to vote by the deadline of 6 May. This will use media that is targeted at the under-registered groups identified through research, which include young people, recent homemovers, people living in private rented accommodation and from BME communities.
	The Commission's most recent research into the accuracy and completeness of the April 2011 electoral registers in Great Britain found them to be 85% accurate and 82% complete.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the registration drives organised by (a) Bite the Ballot, (b) Operation Black Vote and (c) other groups in civil society.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it makes no formal assessments of other groups' registration drives. It does, however, provide support to them through the provision of registration forms, downloadable campaign materials such as posters and banners, and social media promotion for specific campaigns, such as Bite the Ballot's National Register to Vote Day.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what (a) meetings and (b) correspondence the Electoral Commission has had with Experian on voter under registration in each of the last six years.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that ahead of the 2010 UK parliamentary election, it worked with Experian and the Central Office of Information on a public awareness campaign to target people who had recently moved house. The Commission utilised data provided by Experian to contact home movers.
	In addition, representatives from the Commission met with Experian in March 2011 to discuss a project undertaken by them to identify gaps and inconsistencies in the electoral register using external datasets.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has had discussions with churches and religious denominations in the UK about the importance of electoral registration.

Gary Streeter: Electoral registration is delivered by electoral registration officers (EROs). The Electoral Commission’s guidance for EROs encourages them to work closely with groups including churches, religious denominations and other organisations who can have particularly effective reach into groups of under-registered individuals and those who are most likely to be unconfirmed as part of the roll out of individual electoral registration (IER). This guidance includes templates to assist local authorities to contact a wide range of community groups.
	The commission’s ongoing programme of engagement to increase voters’ awareness of IER will include communications with faith groups and relevant religious organisations.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what action the Electoral Commission has taken against local authorities which have failed performance standard three for electoral registration officers (house-to-house enquiries).

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that performance standard 3 aims to ensure that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) make the necessary house-to-house inquiries to ensure that all eligible residents are registered, in line with their legal duty to maintain the electoral registers.
	The Commission required all EROs to report on their performance prior to the start of the 2013 postponed canvass and to confirm that arrangements were in place for the necessary house to house inquiries to be carried out. As part of this, the Commission required all EROs who were not meeting the standards in 2012, including the 30 EROs who did not meet performance standard 3, to provide supporting evidence to the Commission to demonstrate their performance.
	The Commission has been working with individual EROs whose returns and other available information indicated that they may not be meeting one or more performance standards to identify and recommend improvements that could be made, with a view to ensuring that they take the necessary steps to enable them to meet the performance standards. While the Commission cannot direct EROs to take steps to meet the standards, the Secretary of State does hold a power to direct EROs in relation to the discharge of their functions, which can be exercised on a recommendation of the Commission. To date, no such recommendation or direction has been considered appropriate.
	In March 2014, the Commission will make a final assessment of performance for 2013, including an assessment of performance against performance standard 3, and will report on its conclusions.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what discussions the Electoral Commission has had with the Electoral Registration Officer on measures to improve levels of electoral registration.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it sets standards for and provides guidance and resources to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to support their efforts to increase voter registration.
	In September 2013, the commission published new performance standards which are designed to support EROs in preparing for and delivering the transition to individual electoral registration (IER). The standards have been endorsed by the UK Electoral Advisory Board—membership of which includes the regional returning officer for each electoral region in the UK— ensuring that they reflect a shared understanding across the
	electoral community of what EROs should be doing. The standards help to ensure that EROs understand the particular challenges in their area, and are taking steps to address these.
	The commission will keep EROs' plans and strategies to engage with electors under regular review throughout the transition, supplying feedback to all EROs and their teams, and providing additional support for those identified as requiring it.
	To support the transition to individual electoral registration (IER), the commission will also be providing EROs with template leaflets, letters, digital advertisements and posters for use as part of their local public engagement work.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the value for money of electoral registration drives carried out by (a) political parties, (b) civic society and (c) the Electoral Commission.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has made no value for money assessments of electoral registration drives carried out by political parties or civic society organisations. It does, however, have strict financial procedures in place to ensure value for money is gained at each stage of supplier procurement for its own campaigns.
	Budgets for its campaigns are all ‘zero-based’, meaning any expenditure must be justified against a specific need. There is also a ceiling on the total budget for any campaign of the nearest previous equivalent campaign delivered by the commission. Tracking research is also undertaken to benchmark against previous campaigns and to ensure future campaigns are based on past learnings.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what contingency plans the Electoral Commission has to cope with a significant drop in voter registration as a result of individual electoral registration.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it will continue to monitor electoral registration in Great Britain during the transition to individual electoral registration (IER) from 2014 to 2016.
	The commission will use data and analysis about any changes to levels of registration to identify new or additional actions that Electoral Registration Officers should take, and to inform the development of the commission's own public awareness activity.
	The commission will also report in mid-2015 in order to inform a ministerial decision on whether the end date for the transition to IER should be moved forward from December 2016 to December 2015, taking into account evidence about any changes to registration levels.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how much the Electoral Commission spent on estimating the number of unregistered voters in each of the last five years.

Gary Streeter: The commission refers the hon. Member to the answer to his previous question (185891) which outlined the amount spent on research focusing on under registration.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if the Electoral Commission will publish its correspondence with the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd on the increase in the estimated number of unregistered voters.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that copies of this correspondence will be sent to the hon. Member. The commission does not routinely publish correspondence with hon. Members, as these can often relate to sensitive constituency matters.

Electoral Register: Fraud

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the (a) number of successful prosecutions for electoral registration fraud and (b) public perception of electoral registration fraud in each year for which data is available.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it regularly publishes data reported by UK police forces about cases of alleged electoral fraud. These data are collected from each police force every month and recorded by the Association of Chief Police Officers National Police Coordination Centre.
	Data about the outcome of cases of alleged electoral registration fraud since 2010, accurate as at December 2013, are set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Case outcome 2010 2011 2012 2013 
			 No further action (NFA)—no evidence 7 10 14 1 
			 NFA—no offence 10 8 37 3 
			 NFA—not an electoral fraud offence — 2 1 3 
			 NFA—undetectable 10 6 11 — 
			 Under Investigation 35 22 19 7 
			 Prosecution advice awaited 8 2 1 — 
			 Locally resolved/Informal police advice given 4 10 2 3 
			 Caution 4 1 5 — 
			 Court proceedings initiated 2 — 2 — 
			 Acquitted — — 1 — 
			 Convicted — 1 — — 
			 Other (including passed to another force) 1 2 1 4 
			 Total 81 64 95 21 
		
	
	The Commission has also carried out public opinion research on concerns about electoral fraud, and has asked people in its annual winter tracker survey whether they think registering to vote is safe from fraud since 2010. The proportion of people who said that they were concerned about electoral registration fraud each year is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  As at December: 
			  2010 2011 2012 
			 Very safe 22 23 23 
			 Fairly safe 57 58 55 
			 Neither safe nor unsafe 10 6 7 
			 Fairly unsafe 7 8 8 
			 Very unsafe 2 2 3 
			 Do not know 3 4 3 
			 Safe 79 80 78 
			 Unsafe 9 10 11 
		
	
	More generally, the winter tracker survey has found that the percentage that think electoral fraud is a problem has fluctuated at around one-third (36% said it was a problem in December 2012). Data from these surveys are available on the Commission's website at:
	http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/our-work/our-research/public-opinion-surveys

Electorate

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what research the Electoral Commission has conducted on the potential effect of requirements for proof of identify by voters on (a) electoral registration rates and (b) electoral turnout; and if he will place in the Library copies of that research.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has carried out research with the public on the potential impact of requiring people to provide information to verify their identity when applying to register to vote. The most recent research carried out in December 2012 found that:
	95% of people said it would be easy for them to find their national insurance number if they needed it for official purposes.
	81% of people said that a requirement to provide a national insurance number would either make no difference to their likelihood to register to vote, or that it would make them more likely to do so.
	92% of people said that being required to provide their date of birth would either have no impact or increase the likelihood of them registering to vote.
	92% of people said that being required to provide their signature would either have no impact or increase the likelihood of them registering to vote.
	In Northern Ireland, where voters are required to present photo ID at the polling station, the Commission's 2009 post-poll public opinion survey found that 100% of respondents experienced no difficulty with presenting ID.
	The survey also found that the vast majority of non-voters said the requirement to present ID at the polling station would have made no difference to their decision to vote (87%). 7% reported that it would make them less likely to vote and 6% more likely.
	Data from these surveys are available on the Commission's website at:
	http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/our-work/our-research/public-opinion-surveys
	The Commission also contracted the agency Define Research and Insight to carry out qualitative research with the public into perceptions of electoral fraud. The research was carried out in two phases between January and May 2013, and included a combination of group discussions and individual depth interviews undertaken in a range of locations across the UK.
	The research focused on people's understanding of and concerns about electoral fraud, including exploring the potential impact of requiring electors to show proof of their identity when they vote at polling stations in Great Britain. The research analysis reports are available on the Commission's website at:
	http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/electoral-fraud/electoral-fraud-vulnerabilities-review
	Further to the review, the Commission intends to carry out further more detailed research and consultation on the most appropriate forms of identification which could be used to verify the identity of voters at polling stations in Great Britain.

Voting Behaviour

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what research the Electoral Commission on voter (a) turnout and (b) disengagement in the last six years.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that its participation activities focus on registration rather than voter turnout or disengagement. However, the Commission does collect and publish detailed data on turnout at all elections. This information is available on the Commission's website.

Voting Behaviour

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the voter turnout was for (a) postal and (b) non-postal voters in all elections for which the Electoral Commission holds data.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it holds turnout data for (a) postal and (b) non-postal voters for the following elections:
	
		
			 Election Postal voter turnout (% postal ballots returned) In-person (non-postal voter) turnout 
			 2013 English local elections 67.1 25.0 
			 2012 Police and crime commissioner elections 48.2 9.2 
			 2012 English local elections 68.0 24.2 
			 2012 Greater London Authority elections 68.8 34.4 
			 2012 Scottish local elections 69.7 34.9 
			 2012 Welsh local elections 68.2 33.0 
			 2011 Parliamentary voting system referendum 71.9 37.5 
			 2011 English local elections 72.8 36.7 
			 2011 Scottish Parliament elections 77.0 47.0 
			 2011 National Assembly for Wales elections 71.1 35.8 
			 2010 UK parliamentary general election 83.2 62.6 
			 2010 English local elections 80.9 59.7 
			 2009 European Parliament elections 64.4 30.4 
			 2009 English local elections 68.7 35.2 
			 2008 English local elections 71.5 28.7 
			 2008 Welsh local elections 71.4 40.7 
			 2007 Scottish Parliament elections 73.5 51.4 
			 2007 National Assembly for Wales elections 78.2 39.3 
			 2006 English local elections1 63 32 
			 2005 UK parliamentary general election 78.6 59.5 
			 2004 European Parliament elections2 64.8 34.0 
			 1 Mean local authority-level turnout 2 Calculation based on ballot papers included in the count. Data exclude electoral regions with all-postal voting.

HEALTH

Abortion

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what proportion of HSA1 did (a) one or (b) both certifying doctors not indicate whether or not they had seen and examined the pregnant woman to whom the certificate related in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

Jane Ellison: HSA1 forms are not submitted to the Department but are held locally with medical records for three years.

Abortion

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department has given to the withdrawal of support for independent abortion providers in situations where their guidance does not comply with legislation.

Jane Ellison: The Secretary of State for Health has a power under section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967 to approve independent sector places to perform termination of pregnancy. All providers must undertake to, and continue to comply with:
	the Abortion Act 1967 and regulations made under the Act—Abortion Regulations 1991;
	the requirements set out in regulations under the Health and Social Care Act 2008; and
	the Required Standard Operating Procedures currently set out in Interim Procedures for the Approval of Independent Sector Places for the Termination of Pregnancy.

Abortion: Counselling

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department plans to introduce guidance for non-statutory pregnancy counselling services.

Jane Ellison: The Government's Framework for Sexual Health Improvement, published in March 2013, made clear that abortion counselling should be provided by trained counsellors and that it should be non-judgmental, impartial and put patients' needs first, irrespective of the employer of the counsellor. It is for national health service providers to ensure that the services they recommend meet this need.

All Party Physical Activity Commission

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his Department's evidence to the All Party Commission on Physical Activity.

Jane Ellison: ‘Moving More, Living More’—a document setting out the Government's approach to helping the nation to become more active, as the physical activity element of the legacy to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games—was launched on 13 February. A copy of this document has been sent to the All Party Commission on Physical Activity as evidence, and it has also been placed in the Library.

Appendicitis

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many cases of acute appendicitis (a) the patient’s appendix has burst and (b) the patient has died as a result in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: Information on the number of cases of acute appendicitis where the patient’s appendix has burst and the patient has died as a result is not collected.

Breast Cancer

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with NHS England on ensuring that future iterations of the Innovation Scorecard are able to record levels of uptake of breast cancer chemoprevention drugs;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with NHS England on overcoming barriers to monitoring uptake of breast cancer chemoprevention drugs.

Norman Lamb: We have had no such discussions. NHS England is committed to developing the Innovation Scorecard further, both to increase the coverage of the health technologies included, and to improve the scorecard's utility as a vehicle to stimulate the monitoring of NHS compliance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technology appraisals and prompt conversations about variation and the reasons for variation in the system.

Breast Cancer

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to work with NHS England to ensure that (a) regional and (b) historical comparisons on the uptake of breast cancer drugs can be made using the Innovation Scorecard.

Norman Lamb: The Innovation Scorecard includes information on a number of drugs recommended in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal guidance for the treatment of breast cancer.
	We understand that NHS England is continuing to develop the Innovation Scorecard to increase both the coverage of the medicines and health technologies included and improve the scorecard's utility as a vehicle to stimulate the monitoring of national health service compliance with NICE technology appraisals and prompt conversations about variation and the reasons for variation in the system.

Cancer: Drugs

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the total expenditure from the Cancer Drugs Fund in each of the last three years.

Norman Lamb: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr Burns) on 4 March 2014, Official Report, column 768W.
	In addition, NHS England has published a summary financial report for the Cancer Drugs Fund at end December 2013 on its website at:
	www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/cdf-sum-fin-pos.pdf

Cancer: Drugs

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence plans to appraise the Abraxane form of protein-bound paclitanel.

Norman Lamb: Paclitaxel formulated as albumin-bound nanoparticles (Abraxane), in combination with gemcitabine, for treating previously untreated metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas has been referred to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) technology appraisal programme. We understand that NICE currently expects to issue guidance to the national health service on this topic in January 2015.

Children: Heart Diseases

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he was informed that NHS England would not complete the Congenital Heart Disease Review by June 2014.

Jane Ellison: The review is being undertaken by NHS England and they advise that all information relating to the review can be found on their website and through a fortnightly blog:
	www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/qual-clin-lead/chd/
	www.england.nhs.uk/publications/blogs/john-holden/
	We understand that—following engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including clinicians, providers and patient and public representatives—NHS England expect to publish draft service standards for consultation over the summer. Once finalised, these standards will form the basis of NHS England's commissioning of these services in 2015-16.
	The new Congenital Heart Disease review team are using the NHS England website and their blog to keep everyone up to date with their estimates on timing. For example, this NHS England Board paper was published on the website ahead of a Board meeting of 24 January 2014:
	www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/item7d-board-0114.pdf

Crime Prevention: Young People

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what communications his Department has made to (a) local authorities in England and (b) health and wellbeing boards about the Government's Ending Gang and Youth Violence programme.

Jane Ellison: I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 10 February 2014, Official Record, columns 448-49W.
	“Violence and health and wellbeing boards, A practical guide for health and wellbeing boards”, was published on 27 February 2014. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Depressive Illnesses

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) anti-depressants and (b) mindfulness-based treatment in (i) curing and (ii) suppressing depression.

Norman Lamb: The Department has made no such assessment. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has made recommendations on the use of antidepressants and mindfulness-based therapies as a psychological intervention for the prevention of relapse in depression within its clinical guideline ‘Depression: the treatment and management of depression in adults’ (CG90), published in 2009. These include the need to review treatment options with patients and discuss treatments with them to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Eating Disorders

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the UK were diagnosed with an eating disorder in each of the last three years.

Norman Lamb: Information is not held on the number of people diagnosed with an eating disorder. The following table shows the number of admissions in England for the last three years with a primary diagnosis of eating disorder.
	We take the issue of eating disorders very seriously, especially among young people, and we note that the overall number of admissions are rising.
	We are working with organisations such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to produce an e-portal which will provide information and training about mental health online for people who work with children, which is likely to include material specific to eating disorders.
	We are also exploring with internet security companies, charities and other Government Departments how best to protect children and young people from harmful internet content related to eating disorders.
	
		
			 Count of finished admission episodes (FAE) with a primary diagnosis of eating disorder in England, 2010-11 to 2012-13, activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  Total FAEs 
			 2010-11 1,963 
			 2011-12 2,287 
			 2012-13 2,381 
			 Notes: 1. Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAEs) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period. 2. Primary diagnosis The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. 3. ICD-10 codes The following ICD-10 version 4 code were used to identify Eating Disorders: F50. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Female Genital Mutilation

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that health workers identify girls at risk of female genital mutilation and refer them to social services for a safeguarding plan to be put in place.

Jane Ellison: On 6 February, the Department announced that from April 2014, for the first time ever, all national health service acute hospitals must provide information on patients who have undergone female genital mutilation.
	The Department is working with NHS England and other partners to develop materials to support NHS staff to better identify girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM). The Department is also working with NHS England and the relevant Royal Colleges on training for health professionals about FGM.
	The Department is in the early stages of work with the Department for Education with regard to social service referrals on FGM, and will make further announcements on this in due course.

Health Services: Learning Disability

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms his Department has put in place to assess whether health commissioners are paying learning disability services a fee that reflects the cost of the service that they provide.

Norman Lamb: Learning disability services are subject to local price setting. When setting local prices commissioners should ensure that health care services provided are in the best interests of patients. They must promote transparency to improve accountability and encourage the sharing of best practice. Providers and commissioners must engage constructively with each other when agreeing local payments and must have regard for the national tariff efficiency and cost uplift factors when agreeing local prices.
	The rules on local pricing around local price setting are set out in section 7.4 of the ‘2014/15 National Tariff Payment System’, published by on 17 December at:
	www.monitor.gov.uk/NT

Heart Diseases

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to make a statement on the outcome of the new congenital heart disease review.

Jane Ellison: The review is being undertaken by NHS England and they advise that all information relating to the review can be found on their website and through a fortnightly blog:
	www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/qual-clin-lead/chd/www.england.nhs.uk/publications/blogs/john-holden/
	We understand that—following engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including clinicians, providers and patient and public representatives—NHS England expect to publish draft service standards for consultation over the summer. Once finalised, these standards will form the basis of NHS England's commissioning of these services in 2015-16.

HIV Infection

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the National Screening Committee on evidence for increased routine HIV testing in high prevalence areas.

Jane Ellison: Recommendations for HIV screening and testing are made by a number of bodies including Public Health England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officer's Expert Advisory Group on AIDS, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), and professional organisations such as the British HIV Association and the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV.
	At present there is a national antenatal screening programme which offers screening to all pregnant women. NICE guidelines for most at risk groups (men who have sex with men and black African communities) recommend large scale HIV testing in primary and secondary care under certain circumstances, such as in areas of higher prevalence. In addition, HIV testing is offered to all attendees of genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics.
	The current approach is made up of a range of testing strategies combined with promotion through outreach to communities most at-risk of HIV infection. Around two million HIV tests are undertaken annually (excluding those on blood donors), most of which are performed in either GUM clinics or antenatal care services
	1
	.
	Further improvement of HIV testing provision is a high public health priority. Comprehensive public health surveillance data show that the HIV infection is not evenly spread across the UK. Given this situation it is uncertain whether a universal screening programme which would test the whole population would represent an appropriate response.
	The Department has asked the UK NSC to review the evidence for a universal HIV screening programme in adults as this has not been carried out before. The UK NSC expects to consult on the review in early 2015.
	1 Health Protection Agency. HIV in the UK 2011 report. November 2011:
	www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1317131685847

HIV Infection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a patient experience survey for people receiving NHS treatment for HIV.

Daniel Poulter: There are no plans at the present time to introduce a patient experience survey specifically for people receiving NHS treatment for HIV. However, there is a wide-ranging programme of patient experience surveys and other feedback mechanisms managed by the Care Quality Commission and NHS England. The experiences of patients, including those receiving treatment for HIV, will be captured by such mechanisms, in particular the Friends and Family Test (FFT). FFT will be rolled out to all NHS services by the end of March 2015.

Meningitis: Vaccination

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has received advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation following its meeting on 11 February 2014 regarding the introduction of a meningitis B vaccination programme on the NHS.

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has received advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation regarding the introduction of a meningitis B vaccination programme in the NHS since 11 February 2014.

Jane Ellison: We are awaiting final advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) about the use of the meningococcal B vaccine, Bexsero®.
	The JCVI is due to report back by 26 March 2014 at the latest, having reviewed additional evidence at its meeting last month.
	We will then respond to any JCVI recommendation as quickly as possible.

Mental Health

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of (a) the number of people in the UK suffering from (i) loneliness and (ii) chronic loneliness and (b) the cost to the NHS of such conditions;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the effect of loneliness on (a) life expectancy, (b) cardiovascular disease, (c) dementia and (d) recovery from illness.

Norman Lamb: The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the effect of loneliness. We do know that loneliness has a very negative impact on health—research identified by the Campaign to End Loneliness has demonstrated that social relationships have an effect on mortality that is similar in size to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
	The Department is raising awareness of the issue and helping local health and wellbeing boards and commissioners to get better at measuring the issue in their local communities. This will help them come up with the right targeted solutions, and drive local improvements that really make a difference.

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that a wide range of psychological therapies is accessible to people with multiple and complex needs;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to fund research into the effectiveness of psychological therapies for people with multiple and complex needs.

Norman Lamb: Over £400 million is being invested over the spending review period to make a choice of psychological therapies available for those who need them, including those with complex and multiple needs, in all parts of England.
	The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is funding a range of research relating to psychological therapies for people with multiple and complex needs. This includes a revision of the Cochrane review of psychosocial interventions for people with both severe mental illness and substance misuse. Research to evaluate individual psychological interventions for anxiety and substance misuse linked to bipolar disorder is included within a £2.1 million programme of NIHR-funded research on bipolar disorder led by Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust.
	NHS England is running a series of pilot programmes to expand or improve Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services for people with severe mental illness, long-term conditions, black and minority ethnic (BME) groups and older people.
	We are also investing in improving provision for children and young people, older people and carers, people from BME groups, people with long-term physical health problems and those with severe mental illness.

Mental Health: Females

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve the mental health of women.

Norman Lamb: Improving diagnosis and services for women with pregnancy-related mental health problems is one of the Department's objectives for maternity care. Our mental health action plan, ‘Closing the Gap’, published in January this year sets out a priority on maternal mental health during pregnancy and after birth including postnatal depression.
	The priorities in ‘Closing the Gap’ and the wider programme of activity in support of delivery of the priorities are for women of all ages, where applicable, and includes a specific priority around tackling inequalities to mental health services. A copy of ‘Closing the Gap’ has been placed in the Library.

Muscular Dystrophy

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2014, Official Report, column 143W, on muscular dystrophy, what clinical definition of (a) muscular dystrophy and (b) mitochondrial myopathy he used to prepare his answer; and what the evidential basis is for consideration of mitochondrial myopathy to be a form of muscular dystrophy;
	(2)  regarding those cases of muscular dystrophy that he stated are new techniques, which of the genes or genetic loci associated with muscular dystrophy in the Mendelian Inheritance in Man database map to the mitochondrial genome;
	(3)  what proportion of cases of muscular dystrophy are caused by mitochondrial DNA abnormalities every year; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of cases of serious muscular dystrophy caused by mitochondrial DNA abnormalities that will be prevented each year by new techniques which aim to prevent mitochondrial disorders.

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2014, Official Report, column 145W, on muscular dystrophy, and in relation to the mitochondrial abnormalities that are alleged to cause muscular dystrophy, how muscular dystrophy is defined clinically; how mitochondrial myopathy is defined clinically; and on what basis mitochondrial myopathy is considered to be a form of muscular dystrophy;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2014, Official Report, column 145W, on muscular dystrophy, and in relation to those cases of muscular dystrophy that are alleged to be caused by mitochondrial DNA abnormalities that could be prevented by new in-vitro fertilisation techniques, what proportion of cases of muscular dystrophy are caused by mitochondrial DNA abnormalities per year; and what proportion of cases of serious muscular dystrophy caused by mitochondrial DNA abnormalities are expected to be prevented each year by new techniques which aim to prevent mitochondrial disorders;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2014, Official Report, column 145W, on muscular dystrophy, and in relation to those cases of muscular dystrophy that are alleged to be caused by mitochondrial DNA abnormalities that could be prevented by new in-vitro fertilisation techniques, which of the genes or genetic loci associated with muscular dystrophy in the Mendelian Inheritance in Man database map to the mitochondrial genome.

Jane Ellison: In preparing written answers to questions on the use on mitochondrial donation techniques to prevent the transfer of a serious mitochondrial disease/ including conditions that result in loss of muscle co-ordination, muscle weakness and malfunction of the neuromuscular system, advice has been sought from The Wellcome Trust and the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. As my right hon. Friend and the hon. Member may be aware, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign has expressed firm support for allowing the use of mitochondrial donation techniques in clinical practice.
	Muscular dystrophies are a group of muscle diseases that weaken the musculoskeletal system and limit movement. There are a number of different causes including abnormalities of structural proteins, for example Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and mitochondrial abnormalities. Thus mitochondrial abnormalities can cause muscular dystrophy but there are many other causes.
	With regard to the muscular conditions that result from mutations in the mitochondrial DNA, there are many different mitochondrial gene defects that are a cause of mitochondrial myopathy. Moreover, mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother, therefore, mitochondrial diseases do not show simple types of inheritance.
	Only those cases of muscular dystrophy caused by mitochondrial DNA abnormalities could be prevented by the new techniques.
	The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database does not simply list syndromes that are due to mutations in mitochondrial DNA. Some entries contain both mitochondrial and nuclear-encoded phenotypes, complicating identification of relevant conditions, compounded by uncertainty as to what the term “muscular dystrophy-like syndromes” might encompass, given that many of the clinical symptoms include effects on other tissues, such as the brain or kidney, in addition to muscle.
	The Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research at Newcastle university recently updated their estimate and now consider that, initially, 10 to 20 families per year might be assisted by the mitochondrial donation techniques. However, we are not able to estimate how many of these cases would involve conditions affecting the major muscle groups.

Naltrexone

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will take steps in partnership with pharmaceutical companies to fund clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of low dose naltrexone in providing relief to patients with autoimmune diseases and central nervous system disorders.

Daniel Poulter: The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) manages the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme, which is funded by the Medical Research Council and the NIHR. University-based researchers can apply to this programme for funding for the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of treatments, including the use of low dose naltrexone. If evidence from such evaluations is promising, larger scale trials can follow.
	The NIHR Clinical Research Network provides a single point of contact for industry studies, offers centralised and co-ordinated study feasibility assessment, and support with patient recruitment.

NHS England

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what organisations outside NHS England provide administrative or research support to NHS England.

Jane Ellison: NHS England has advised that the information is not held in the form requested, due to the wide range of activities that could be considered administrative or research support.
	It is not possible to provide a comprehensive list because there is not a single 'administrative spend' category within NHS England's finance data. However, a list of the principal organisations that are contracted to provide outsourced administrative services to NHS England is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Organisations Administrative service 
			 NHS Shared Business Services Financial transaction services 
			 SERCO Financial transaction services 
			 CGIT UK Payroll 
			 NHS Shared Business Services Procurement Support and Human Resource Transaction service 
			 Health and Social Care Information Centre Frontline Support—Contact Centre 
			 Note: This information relates to expenditure in 2013-14. 
		
	
	NHS England has not contracted with any outside organisations for research. NHS England works closely with NHS Improving Quality, which is one of its hosted organisations and co-operates with the Academic Health Science Networks, but has issued no contracts for research with them.

NHS Property Services

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the chairman of NHS Property Services has not yet been appointed.

Daniel Poulter: The campaign to appoint a chair to NHS Property Services has not yet been completed. As is consistent with the Commissioner for Public Appointments "Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies" Ministers have arranged to meet the candidates and a decision will be made in due course.

NHS: Freedom of Information

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisation is responsible for responding to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 about issues which formerly fell under the remit of strategic health authorities.

Jane Ellison: The Health and Social Care Act (2012) transferred the functions previously performed by strategic health authorities (SHAs) to a number of organisations in the new health and care system.
	Where a function was transferred, all current and historic information relating to that function also transferred to the organisation now responsible for delivering it. There is no single organisation responsible for answering requests made under the Freedom of Information Act for information previously held by SHAs, as a number of different bodies now carry out these functions.
	The Department is responsible for answering requests relating to corporate and historic matters of SHAs which have not transferred to another body in the system.

NHS: Technology

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to introduce SensiumVitals patches in NHS hospitals;
	(2)  what plans he has to make 3G implants for children with a heart condition available to NHS patients.

Norman Lamb: The SensiumVitals medical sensor patch and the Reveal LINQ 3G heart monitoring implant are new innovations in medical technology. The decision to procure such devices for use in the national health service would be a matter for local commissioners and providers, taking into account the evidence of their clinical and cost-effectiveness.

Pancreatic Cancer

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2014, Official Report, column 460W, on cancer: drugs, for what reasons NHS England did not place Abraxane for the treatment of advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas on the national list of Cancer Drugs Fund cohort policies.

Norman Lamb: NHS England's Cancer Drugs Fund panel considered including Abraxane on the national Cancer Drugs Fund cohort policies list for this indication in July 2013. We understand it rejected the application on the basis that the absolute clinical improvements were small and came with significantly increased toxicity.
	NHS England's Cancer Drugs Fund clinical panel is reviewing its earlier decision not to add Abraxane to its national list of cohort policies in light of new evidence submitted by the manufacturer and will make its decision known shortly.
	Full details of NHS England's decisions are available at:
	www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/cdf-drug-sum/

Pharmacy

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that pharmacies deliver a common ailments service.

Norman Lamb: NHS England is responsible for the commissioning of NHS pharmaceutical services. It is for NHS England to decide if a common ailments service should be included. Through their document ‘Community pharmacy—Helping with winter pressures’, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, NHS England has identified where community pharmacies can contribute during the winter period. This includes supporting self-care for common ailments. NHS England is conducting a review of Urgent and Emergency Care led by Sir Bruce Keogh. The contribution of a common ailments service will be considered as part of this review.
	Clinical commissioning groups are able to commission common ailments services in their area, in order to meet the health needs of their local population.

Pharmacy: Crime

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to remove strict liability on single dispensing errors from pharmacists.

Norman Lamb: The Rebalancing Medicines Legislation and Pharmacy Regulation Programme Board has developed proposals to exempt registered pharmacists and registered pharmacy technicians from the criminal sanction for dispensing errors. We plan to consult on a draft section 60 order, to effect these changes, shortly. We are committed to seeking to complete the legislative process during this Parliament.

Prescription Drugs

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions for (a) methlphenidate, (b) benzodiazepines, (c) morphine sulphate and (d) oxycodone were issued in (i) the UK, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland, (vi) each English local authority and (vii) each Welsh local authority area in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: Information has been placed in the Library.
	The Department does not hold information on the number of prescriptions issued, only the number of prescription items dispensed. In addition, information is only held on prescribing activity for England. Dispensed prescription activity is usually apportioned to health bodies rather than local government, therefore information is provided by primary care trusts and now by clinical commissioning groups. The five-year period requested has been interpreted as the five most recent available full financial years, for which information is only available for the four years 2009-10 to 2012-13.

Procurement

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions officials in his Department have had with his Department's arm's length bodies since 1 January 2014 on raising new purchase orders in the current financial year; what the content of those discussions was; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The Department operates a range of controls to ensure that commitments which are entered into deliver against departmental priorities and represent value for money. In order to deliver against a challenging budgetary position, in January the Department reaffirmed the need to look critically at all new commitments. No formal communications were issued to our arm's length bodies (ALBs) but their Directors of Finance were told of the steps being taken within the Department and asked to consider the consistency of their own arrangements. To note, none of the aforementioned involves front line national health service spending. The Department's Procurement Centre of Expertise (PCoE) has no direct involvement in the raising of purchase orders within ALBs. However, PCoE does review and comment on business cases for professional services as part of the Cabinet Office efficiency controls. No changes to that process have been made over recent months with any cases received being dealt with in the usual manner.

Respiratory Diseases

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are on (a) invasive and (b) non-invasive ventilation; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The information is not available in the format requested.
	In the following table, we have provided information concerning the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with a primary or secondary procedure of invasive or non-invasive ventilation for 2012-13.
	
		
			 Type of Ventilation Number of FCEs 
			 Invasive 45,649 
			 Non-invasive 100,611 
			 Notes: 1. Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. 2. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 3. These figures do not represent the number of patients as it is possible for an individual to have one or more episodes of care in any given period. It is also possible that an individual may have an occurrence of both an invasive and non-invasive procedure in one episode. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES); Outpatients, Health and Social Care Information Centre

Sexuality

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will publish its assessment of the UK Council for Psychotherapy's February 2014 report on Conversion therapy.

Norman Lamb: There are no plans to publish an assessment of the UK Council for Psychotherapy's Joint Statement on Conversion Therapy.
	Being lesbian, gay or bisexual is not an illness to be treated or cured. We are therefore concerned about this issue of gay to straight conversion therapy.
	The Department is pursuing a number of initiatives with the UK Council for Psychotherapy and other professional bodies.
	On 28 February, following discussions with the Department, the UK Council for Psychotherapy produced a statement opposing gay conversion therapy with the support and assistance of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, the British Psychological Society, the British Psychoanalytic Council, Stonewall and Pink Therapy.

Skin Cancer

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients with late-stage melanoma have received Ipilimumab as a second-line treatment following unsuccessful treatment with the first-line drug Dacarbazine in (a) St Austell and Newquay constituency, (b) Cornwall and (c) England in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people aged 15 to 34 have been diagnosed with advanced melanoma in (a) St Austell and Newquay constituency, (b) Cornwall and (c) England; and how many such people have received (i) Dacarbazine and (ii) Ipilimumab.

Norman Lamb: Information is not collected by the Department on the number of patients receiving particular medicines or details of the medical condition treated by the medicines.
	The following table provides the number of newly diagnosed cases of malignant melanoma of skin for Cornwall local authority and England, for persons aged from 15 to 34 years. Figures for the most recent available year, 2011, have been provided.
	
		
			 Number of newly diagnosed cases of malignant melanoma of skin1, persons aged 15-34 years, Cornwall local authority and England, 20112,3 
			  Registrations 
			 Cornwall 9 
			 England 814 
			 1 For 2011 malignant melanoma skin cancer is coded to C43 in the International Statistical Classification of Disease 10th Revision (ICD-10). 2 Newly diagnosed cases registered in each calendar year. 3 Figures for the St Austell and Newquay parliamentary constituency have not been provided, due to the small number of malignant melanoma diagnoses in this age group. Source: Office for National Statistics, Cancer Registration Statistics.

Specialised Services Patient and Public Engagement Steering Group

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2014, Official Report, column 279W, on Specialised Services Patient and Public Engagement Steering Group, how many times NHS England's Patient and Public Engagement Steering Group has met since 1 April 2013; and for what reason the minutes of those meetings have not yet been agreed to be published;
	(2)  if he will publish a list of all the members of the Steering Group and the organisations they represent.

Daniel Poulter: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave her on 25 February 2014, Official Report, column 279W, and provide the following further information.
	The Patient and Public Engagement Steering Group (PPESG) for Specialised Services was set up by NHS England to bring patient voice into the organisation during its transition phase. Its core role has been to help ensure that the future model for involving patients and the public with regard to specialised services commissioned by NHS England is produced by co-design and co-production.
	The group has met six times since April 2013:
	23 April 2013;
	10 July 2013;
	5 September 2013;
	17 October 2013;
	20 November 2013;
	28 January 2014; and
	due to meet 18 March 2014.
	The PPESG includes a number of patient organisations including several focusing on specialised services. However it was always intended to be an interim arrangement pending formal establishment of an on-going mechanism for patient and public voice to be influential across Specialised Commissioning. The PPE Steering Group will cease to exist following its final meeting in March 2014.
	After the last meeting of the PPESG in March 2014 the Patient and Public Voice Assurance Group (PPVAG) will formally commence and will continue the work started by the PPE Steering group. The PPESG has developed the terms of reference for this new PPVAG.
	Open recruitment for PPVAG members has recently closed with over 70 applications. It is anticipated that the new membership will be in place for April 2014 and is expected to include patient groups, including invited representation, and individual patients and members of the public.
	The PPAVG will be accountable to the NHS England Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group (previously known as the Specialised Services Portfolio Board).
	Terms of reference for this new group, including details of group membership, will be available publically once they have been ratified. It is NHS England's intention to align openness and transparency arrangements for all directly commissioned services committees and sub-committees and would anticipate making minutes of the meetings publically available once the new group has been established.
	Further, NHS England has now recruited over 300 patient and public voice members to the 74 national Clinical Reference groups that focus on the component areas of specialised services.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Business: Floods

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assistance is available to businesses affected by flooding.

Matthew Hancock: For specific support in Wales, businesses should contact the Business Wales Helpline (0300 060 3000). I am aware that the Welsh Government is working with Natural Resources Wales and local authorities on programmes for flood and coastal defence improvements.
	Nationally, HMRC and Companies House have schemes in place to support businesses that due to these exceptional conditions are unable to file their papers or pay their taxes.
	Support from non-government sources is also available; the banks have announced £750 million of support for businesses affected and the Business Exchange website
	www.greatbusinessexchange.co.uk/small-business-affected-uk-floods
	has a page to enable businesses that wish to provide help to other businesses.
	In England, the Government has announced a package of support for businesses. A £10 million Business Support Scheme has been established and local authorities have already been advised of an initial allocation of funds. A second tranche of funding, reflecting the latest information, will be allocated shortly.
	Businesses that have been flooded since December 2013 will qualify for 100% business rate relief for 3 months, regardless of how long they were flooded.
	In April 2014, businesses will be able to apply for a new Repair and Renewal Grants of up to £5,000 to contribute to work that improves a property's ability to withstand future flooding.
	In addition, the Business Support Helpline (0303 456 3565) is able to direct businesses to support available to businesses in England and can receive one hour of free support with a business adviser.

Business: Human Rights

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on amendments to the EU proposal to update the accounting directives to include non-financial reporting for large companies that would require companies to report with regard to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Jennifer Willott: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 151W.

Companies House

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many companies registered through the Companies House online registration service in each of the last four years were subject to anti-money laundering checks.

Michael Fallon: The Registrar of Companies registers companies in accordance with his statutory duty when an appropriate application is made, whether through electronic or paper channels. His statutory role does not fall within the scope of the anti-money laundering legislation.

Companies House

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the benefits of the potential use of the Companies House online registration service for the purpose of money laundering.

Michael Fallon: No assessment of the benefits of the potential use of the Companies House online registration service for the purpose of money laundering has been made. The Registrar of Companies registers companies in accordance with his statutory duties. The law on money laundering is a matter for HM Treasury and is applied by HM Revenue and Customs and by law enforcement agencies.

Companies House

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many new companies registered through the Companies House online registration service in each of the last four years.

Michael Fallon: Companies House registers companies electronically through both its own online service (web incorporations, which was implemented on 6 April 2011) and through various software packages used by third party providers (software filing). The number of new companies registered by both these means in each of the last four years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Software filing Web incorporations Total 
			 2010/11 366,051 n/a 366,051 
			 2011/12 365,102 72,339 434,441 
			 2012/13 356,296 114,504 470,800 
			 2013/14 328,268 141,239 469,507

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

Gerry Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward legislative proposals to repeal paragraph 6 of schedule 1 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

David Willetts: The Government currently has no such plans. The Government’s position will be laid out in the forthcoming consultation on transitional provisions for the repeal of section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, planned for spring 2014.

EU External Trade: USA

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much added income his Department estimates an EU/US free trade agreement would bring to the UK.

Michael Fallon: Our research estimates that an ambitious, comprehensive EU/US free trade agreement could boost UK national income by up to £10 billion in the long term.

Fairtrade Initiative: Bananas

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the Fairtrade Foundation's Make Bananas Fair campaign.

Jennifer Willott: The UK Government is a committed Fairtrade partner and is providing £18 million over six years to help Fairtrade International have a greater impact in their work and make the global Fairtrade system stronger.
	There is evidence that the grocery retail market is currently working well for UK consumers. As such the Government does not intend to intervene to regulate what businesses may or may not charge consumers for bananas. Pricing policies such as these are commercial decisions for the trader, and are best left to the market. However, if there is evidence that anti-competitive practices are having a negative impact on the supply chain, this should be reported to the Office of Fair Trading (or the Competition and Markets Authority from 1 April) for consideration.

Internet

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what services his Department provides that are (a) available online only and (b) planned to move to online only.

Jennifer Willott: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department of Business Innovation and Skills has over 200 transactional services spread across a large number of partner organisations. We are currently undertaking a programme of transforming our digital services, in partnership with the Government Digital Services, Cabinet Office, with a keen focus on building five exemplar digital projects in five separate Partner Organisations. One of the key components of this programme is to ensure that the right level of support is put in place for those who need help to access our services.

Leasehold

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether consideration was given to including schemes to protect leaseholders within the Consumer Rights Bill.

Jennifer Willott: Part 1 of the Consumer Rights Bill will, when enacted, apply where a trader contracts with a consumer to provide goods, digital content or services within scope. The Department for Communities and Local Government has oversight of a specific legislative regime to protect leaseholders.
	The content of the Bill was consulted on in 2012 and a draft Bill was published and subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Business Innovation and Skills Committee in 2013. These consultations were conducted openly and sought views from a large range of interested parties. However, there were no wide-ranging calls for specific provisions for the protection of leaseholders under the Bill.

Overseas Trade: Ukraine

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the value was of UK (a) exports to and (b) imports from Ukraine in each of the last five years.

Michael Fallon: Data covering trade in goods and services with Ukraine are published annually on a balance of payments basis by the Office for National Statistics. Data for 2008-2012 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 UK exports to and imports from Ukraine, 2008-12, £ million 
			   2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Exports Goods 613 587 474 565 596 
			 Exports Services 233 178 220 216 159 
			 Exports Goods and Services 846 765 694 781 755 
			        
			 Imports Goods 146 145 283 355 297 
			 Imports Services 227 149 220 105 120 
			 Imports Goods and Services 373 294 503 460 417 
			 Source: ONS United Kingdom Balance of Payments The Pink Book 2013 
		
	
	Equivalent data for 2013 will be published in October 2014.
	Data on trade in goods only on a merchandised trade basis are published by HM Revenue and Customs and are available for 2013. Data for 2009-13 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 UK exports to and imports from Ukraine, 2009-2013, £ million 
			   2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
			 Exports Goods 545 442 543 581 553 
			 Imports Goods 149 288 362 315 379 
			 Source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics

Post Offices

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage Government departments to use the Post Office to provide additional services to replace ones being moved solely online or abolished.

Jennifer Willott: The Government continues to support the Post Office's ambition to become a front office for Government services and the company has made significant progress towards this in recent years in highly competitive and challenging commercial environments.
	Both the Post Office and this Department are working hard to identify and secure opportunities, including making use of the framework Front Office Counter Services (FOCS) contract that allows Government Departments and Agencies to use the Post Office network to deliver a range of counter services that complement online services, particularly where a customer’s identity needs to be verified, or for those who cannot or choose not to transact online.
	However, it is important to note that the Government cannot simply give work to the Post Office, or any other company. Contracts must ensure fairness, innovation, and value-for-money for the taxpayer. By winning and retaining key contracts, such as the FOCS contract, the Post Office is demonstrating it can compete on these criteria.

Power Failures

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of power cuts on those areas without mobile phone coverage which are reliant on analogue services.

David Willetts: The UK telecoms sector is set up to provide high levels of resilience, and has comprehensive plans for coping with emergencies. In the event of a widespread and sustained power failure, fixed line telephony is more likely to continue operating than mobile. We are not aware of any significant telecoms incidents in Wales during the recent periods of adverse weather although we are aware that localised incidents could have caused some inconvenience for customers.

Students: Loans

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 499W, on further education: older people, if he will publish an analysis of the age groups accessing advanced learning loans; and if he will promote the scheme to enable younger workers to gain skills from older colleagues.

Matthew Hancock: Information on the number of 24+ Advanced Learning Loan applications received between 8 April 2013 and 31 January 2014 by age group is published online:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/24-advanced-learning-loans-application-information-february-2014
	24+ Advanced Learning Loans are available to anyone who is 24+ on the first day of their Level 3 or Level 4 course, meeting the personal eligibility criteria and studying at an eligible and funded provider. The way the loan funded courses are delivered is the responsibility of the individual provider.

Students: Loans

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when his Department expects to implement a system of Islamic student loans.

David Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has been developing a model alternative finance product which would be Sharia-compliant and could potentially be offered alongside conventional loans to students wishing to attend higher education. This model finance product has been developed by experts in Sharia-compliant finance and has received preliminary approval from the Islamic Bank of Britain’s Sharia supervisory committee. As part of the development process, the Government will shortly seek opinions from the Muslim community, and the wider public, on the acceptability of the alternative finance product under consideration.
	Any system for providing Sharia-compliant student loans is unlikely to be in operation before 2015 given the complexity associated with implementing a new model for offering loans.

JUSTICE

Commercial Court

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in what proportion of cases heard in the Commercial Court in each of the last 10 years one or more of the parties was domiciled or registered outside the jurisdiction.

Shailesh Vara: The Commercial Court started recording the number of cases involving foreign parties in 2008 so no data are available prior to that year.
	
		
			 Financial Year Claims Issued Cases with at least one party whose address is outside England and Wales Percentage of Foreign Cases 
			 2008-09 1,076 774 71.93 
			 2009-10 1,236 929 75.16 
			 2010-11 1,136 929 81.78 
			 2011-12 1,144 942 82.34 
			 2012-13 1,190 961 80.76

Commercial Court

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) operating costs were and (b) income was generated by the commercial court in each of the last 10 years.

Shailesh Vara: The commercial court operates as part of the Queen's bench Division of the High Court, but HMCTS does not record separately the cost or income relating to specific types of work delivered in its civil courts. We therefore cannot separately identify the specific operating costs and income generated by the commercial court.
	The operating costs for the civil courts in HMCTS are published in HMCTS annual report and accounts which can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/corporate-reports/hmcts
	HMCTS records fee income for the commercial court together with that of the admiralty court. We therefore cannot separately identify the fee income for the commercial court. However, we can confirm the amount received in fees by the public purse through cases held in the admiralty and commercial court combined which are provided as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year1 Fee income collected for both admiralty and commercial court (£) 
			 2005-06 978,467 
			 2006-07 1,211,332 
			 2007-08 1,085,547 
			 2008-09 1,465,193 
			 2009-10 1.805,184 
			 2010-11 1,771,020 
			 2011-12 1,866,377 
			 2012-13 2,296,180 
			 1 Information is not available prior to the commencement of HMCS in April 2005.

Commercial Court

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many Commercial Court proceedings lasted (a) one, (b) up to five, (c) up to 10 and (d) over 10 days in the latest period for which figures are available.

Shailesh Vara: The total number of commercial court trials heard in the Rolls Building during the calendar year 2013 was 58. These were made up of the following:
	
		
			  Number of cases 
			 1-day 5 
		
	
	
		
			 Up to 5 days 32 
			 Up to 10 days 9 
			 Over 10 days 12

Commercial Court

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what fees are charged for proceedings in the commercial court.

Shailesh Vara: Commercial court fees listed are contained in the Civil Proceedings Fees (Amendment No. 2) Order 2013 at the following link:
	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1410/pdfs/uksi_20131410_en.pdf

Courts: Television

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which broadcasters have expressed an interest in televising courts; how much he expects to spend on televising courts in each of the next five years; and what proportion of the total cost will be paid by the broadcasters.

Shailesh Vara: The media organisations that are currently permitted to film in the Court of Appeal by permission of the Lord Chancellor are BBC, BSkyB, ITN and the Press Association. These represent the four largest news gathering organisations in England and Wales, and together provide the vast majority of news media.
	These media organisations have met the costs for televising the Court of Appeal to date. They will continue to meet these costs for the duration of three years from the date that broadcasting commenced, as outlined in their agreement with the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor.
	At the present time it is not possible to outline the expectations for the cost of televising courts beyond the three-year agreement for televising the Court of Appeal.

Distress Warrants

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of distress warrants sent to approved enforcement agents are returned uncollected.

Shailesh Vara: Data on the numbers of distress warrants returned uncollected are not collected. Under the existing contract the national target is 20% of cases to be fully paid within 180 days. Distress warrants are used for offenders who wilfully do not engage with the court to pay their fines and as a result are harder to collect.
	The performance for this financial year to December 2013 is 22.78%.
	The approved enforcement agents return cases for several reasons these include—out of time, no goods to levy, gone away no trace, vulnerable, in prison, deported/emigrated and bankrupt. Some of these returns will include part payments, where they have been successful in obtaining some of the money but not all.
	HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) takes the issue of financial penalty enforcement very seriously and is working to ensure that clamping down on defaulters is a continued priority nationwide. HMCTS actively pursues all outstanding impositions until certain they cannot be collected. Collection reached an all time high at the end of 2012-13 and collection has continued to rise in this financial year.
	HMCTS are actively seeking an external provider for the future delivery of compliance and enforcement services.
	This will bring the necessary investment and innovation to significantly improve the collection of criminal financial penalties and reduce the cost of the service to the taxpayer.

Family Proceedings

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to tackle delays in the family justice system.

Simon Hughes: The Government is committed to reducing delays in the family justice system. Provisions in the Children and Families Bill will reform the family justice system by tackling delays and duplication and guarantee that children's best interests remain at the heart of decision-making. The Bill is in the final stages of its passage through Parliament and delivers on the commitments made by the Government in February 2012 in response to the independent Family Justice Review.
	The Bill will put in place a maximum 26 week time limit for the completion of care and supervision proceedings (and other Part IV proceedings) to reduce delays in finding a permanent placement for children. It is intended to send a clear and unambiguous statement to all parts of the family justice system that delays are unacceptable. Where cases can be completed in less than 26 weeks, they should do so.
	Provisions in the Bill will be supported by a revised Public Law Outline (PLO), due to be issued in March, which sets out the case management process for care and supervision proceedings. To assist key agencies, stakeholders and the judiciary in their preparations for the introduction of the time limit Local Family Justice Boards have been piloting a revised PLO since 1 July 2013.
	In private law our overall assessment—based on the data currently available to us in relation to litigants in person in family cases—is that performance in terms of the average time to disposal for private law cases is being maintained. The average number of weeks to disposal in private law children's cases remains steady at around 16 weeks. We have no evidence that cases or hearings are taking longer and that children and families are suffering from delay. My Department continues to monitor the situation.

Homicide: Sentencing

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people convicted of manslaughter in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 received (i) no custodial sentence, (ii) a custodial sentence of up to one year, (iii) a custodial sentence of one to two years, (iv) a custodial sentence of two to five years, (v) a custodial sentence of five to 10 years and (vi) a custodial sentence of more than 10 years.

Jeremy Wright: Manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, which gives the courts full flexibility to deal with all the circumstances of the cases which come before them. This is particularly important as manslaughter covers a broad range of behaviour. The Court of Appeal issued an important guideline judgment in 2009 on sentencing for unlawful act manslaughter in which it stated that attention should be paid to the problem of gratuitous, unprovoked violence in our city centres and streets.
	The number of persons convicted and sentenced at all courts for the offence of manslaughter by sentence outcome and the sentence length for those given an immediate custodial sentence from 2008 to 2012 (latest data available) can be viewed in the table.
	The average custodial sentence length for manslaughter has increased from less than 60 months in 2008 to more than 88 months in 2012.
	Court proceedings statistics for the year 2013 are planned to be published by the Ministry of Justice in May 2014.
	
		
			 Persons convicted and sentenced at all courts for the offence of manslaughter by sentence outcome and the sentence length for those given an immediate custodial sentence, England and Wales, 2008 to 20121, 2 
			  20083 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Convicted 248 219 209 173 166 
			       
			 Sentenced 248 219 209 173 166 
			       
			 Immediate custody 226 202 201 158 153 
			 Up to 1 year 6 4 — 1 — 
			 Over 1 year and up to 2 years 16 17 12 8 5 
			 Over 2 years and up to 5 years 97 74 75 50 41 
			 Over 5 years and up to 10 years 71 64 71 65 65 
			 Over 10 years 4 13 15 11 22 
			 Indeterminate sentence 30 30 26 19 18 
			 Life sentence 2 — 2 4 2 
			       
			 Average custodial sentence length4 59.2 64.9 74.0 77.0 88.1 
			 Suspended sentence 8 2 — 3 2 
			 Community sentence 2 — — 2 1 
			 Fine — — — — — 
			 Absolute discharge — — — — — 
			 conditional discharge — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			 Otherwise dealt with 12 15 8 10 10 
			 ‘—’ = 0. 1 The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008. 4 Excludes life and indeterminate sentences. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Human Rights: Care Homes

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if the Government will bring forward amendments to the Human Rights Act 1998 to ensure that the Act applies in situations where people receive care arranged by a public body from a private provider.

Simon Hughes: The provision of care by a private provider arranged by a public body is already a public function, and the provider would be subject to section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998. The Government has no plans to amend the Human Rights Act.

ICT

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reason his Department's shared services will no longer be a stand-alone centre.

Shailesh Vara: The Cabinet Office published the Next Generation Shared Services Strategic Plan in December 2012. One of the key objectives of the strategic plan was to create two independent shared service centres (ISSCs). At the time, it was agreed that the MOJ would review the decision to retain a standalone shared service centre once their existing Shared Services Programme, which began in February 2010, was complete. Following a change of approach to this programme, the MOJ are now considering options for the future delivery of its back office administration services.
	All options are being evaluated to ensure they provide value for money for taxpayers and continue to meet the needs of customers.

Judges: Housing

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many occasions judges' lodgings were used in each month since January 2010.

Shailesh Vara: The number of occasions which permanent judges' lodgings were used by High Court judges in each month since January 2010 is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Number 
			  2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 
			 January 71 103 91 66 51 
			 February 99 107 106 77 — 
			 March 132 96 105 82 — 
			 April 65 61 76 88 — 
			 May 106 107 88 78 — 
			 June 103 106 77 91 — 
			 July 107 110 121 109 — 
			 August 9 15 4 3 — 
			 September 18 29 14 23 — 
			 October 88 124 130 98 — 
			 November 136 116 101 101 — 
			 December 67 75 68 78 — 
		
	
	The Justice Secretary and Lord Chief Justice are reviewing spending on judges' lodgings. The review will focus on ensuring value for the taxpayer while providing suitable and appropriate accommodation for High Court judges sitting on cases away from their base in the Royal Courts of Justice, satisfactory working conditions and privacy, and appropriate levels of security.
	The most serious and complex cases, both criminal and civil, are heard by High Court judges in courts near to where the events took place and in a place most convenient to parties and witnesses. High Court judges are based in London and need accommodation, often for long periods of time, when they hear cases outside London.
	High Court judges also use hired lodgings which are only used for the duration required. The number of occasions which hired lodgings were used by High Court judges could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

Legal Aid Scheme

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the effect of changes in the level of legal aid under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 on (a) migrant children and (b) unaccompanied children who have made Article 8 right to private life and family claims.

Shailesh Vara: The Government plans to undertake a post-implementation review of the legal aid provisions within the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 within three to five years of implementation. This review will include an assessment of the impact of the reforms.

Legal Aid Scheme

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the effect of changes in the level of legal aid under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 on trafficked children who are seeking leave to remain.

Shailesh Vara: Legal aid remains available to victims of trafficking seeking leave to remain in the United Kingdom under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO).

Legal Representation

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure that unrepresented defendants in very high cost cases are adequately supported in court.

Shailesh Vara: At around £2 billion, we have one of the most expensive legal aid systems in the world. Due to the current economic climate, we have had to make the legal aid system more cost-effective, including by reducing fees paid to advocates. We have been clear throughout consultation processes of our intention to reduce the fees of the highest earners. This is why we have implemented a 30% cut to fees to be paid to advocates for very high cost cases, which represent less than 1% of Crown court cases.
	To ensure that defendants are adequately represented in court, the Public Defender Service are recruiting advocates who can be available to represent defendants as necessary. We are also keen to explore other options to mitigate the potential impact on defendants in such circumstances. We will be monitoring the impact of reforms and the sustainability of the scheme.

Pagers

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many pagers have been provided to staff by his Department since May 2010; and what the cost to the Department was of providing those pagers.

Shailesh Vara: The MOJ have provided 187 pagers to staff between May 2010 and December 2013 and the cost of providing such is £9,227 per annum.
	NOMS require the use of pagers to maintain communications within Establishments, where other forms of communications are difficult due to the fabric of the buildings and other mobile devices are not permitted for security reasons.

Prison Governors

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what average length of time a prison governor has spent in post in England and Wales over the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: The average length of time that a governor spent in a particular post, in public sector prisons, between January 2008 and December 2013 was three years four months.

Prisoner Escapes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners who have escaped prison have been re-captured and jailed at a different prison nearer to their home in each of the last 10 years.

Jeremy Wright: Following an escape from prison or prison escort, the police are informed immediately and will seek to recapture the offender. On recapture, the prisoner will normally be taken to the closest local prison. Once any outstanding court cases are resolved, he or she will be categorised in accordance with Prison Service instructions and moved to the most appropriate establishment to meet both security and rehabilitation needs.
	To establish whether recaptured prisoners had been accommodated in prisons closer to their home address would require the interrogation of individual electronic incident files and prisoner records for each escaper and further work to establish closeness to home. This could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
	Figures for the number of escapes since 1995 are provided in the Prison Digest contained in the Prison and Probation Trusts Performance Statistics. This can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225234/prison-performance-digest-12-13.xls

Prisoner Escapes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any prisoners serving a sentence for murder are still unlawfully at large following an escape or abscond since 1 April 2004. [Official Report, 19 March 2014, Vol. 577, c. 9MC.]

Jeremy Wright: Escapes have been falling for over a decade with the current low levels having been sustained for some years now. This is despite considerable increases in population over the same period. Despite a slight increase in 2012-13, absconds have been falling for nearly two decades.
	The following table shows the number of absconders still unlawfully at large who have an index offence of murder. There are currently no prisoners unlawfully at large with an index offence of murder who have escaped from prison or prison escort. This information was correct as of 3 March 2014.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of absconders still unlawfully at large, with index offence of murder, by financial year 
			 Financial year Index offence of murder 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 1 
			 2006-07 2 
			 2007-08 0 
			 2008-09 0 
			 2009-10 0 
			 2010-11 0 
			 2011-12 0 
			 2012-13 0 
			 Note: These figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 
		
	
	Figures for the number of escapes and absconds since 1995 are provided in the Prison Digest contained in the Prison and Probation Trusts Performance Statistics. This can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225234/prison-performance-digest-12-13.xls

Prisoners

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases of (a) chemical castration of prisoners and (b) assaults by prisoners on other prisoners resulting in castration there have been in each year since 2010.

Jeremy Wright: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and NHS England do not provide for “chemical castration” of prisoners. However, support services for a small number of high-risk sex offenders are offered which provide anti-depressant and anti-libidinal medication. Figures are not collected centrally for treatment in all prisons. We are not aware of any castrations arising from assaults by prisoners since 2010.

Prisoners: Females

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate his Department has made of the likely level of the female prison population over the next five years.

Simon Hughes: The Ministry of Justice publishes prison population projections on an annual basis. Each publication looks at the projected populations of men’s and women’s prisons for the following six years. The latest publication was published on 7 November 2013. The following table has been extracted from the latest publication and shows the prison population projections for females aged 18 and over up to June 2019. The projecting scenarios track the impact of three different sentencing trends on custodial convictions, custodial sentence length and hence on the resulting prison population.
	
		
			  Sentencing scenarios 
			 As at June each year Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3 
			 2014 3,700 3,700 3,800 
			 2015 3,500 3,600 3,700 
			 2016 3,400 3,500 3,600 
			 2017 3,400 3,500 3,700 
			 2018 3,400 3,500 3,700 
			 2019 3,400 3,500 3,700

Prisoners: Females

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many women with a registered home address in Wales were sentenced and remanded to prison in each year since 2006; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average length of custodial sentence for women with a registered home address in Wales was in each year since 2006; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what offences were committed by women with a registered home address in Wales sentenced to prison in each year since 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Hughes: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not the specific circumstances of each case. It is not possible to identify separately from this centrally held information the home address of offenders. Offenders may also have been found guilty at a court not necessarily local to their home address. This detailed information is held on the court record but due to the size and complexity is not reported centrally to the MOJ. As such, the information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Women's Custodial Estate Review, published in October 2013, announced the Government's intention to keep more women from Wales as close to home as possible by giving priority to women from south Wales at HMP/YOI Eastwood Park (in Gloucestershire) and priority for women from north Wales at HMP/YOI Styal (in Cheshire).
	The estate review also proposed the refurbishment of 77 mothballed places at HMP/YOI Eastwood Park to further improve capacity for women from Wales.

Prisoners: Females

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in which prisons women with a registered home address in Wales were held in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013; how many were held in each prison; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Hughes: The Women's Custodial Estate Review, published in October 2013, announced the Government's intention to keep more Welsh women as close to home as possible by giving priority to women from south Wales at HMP/YOI Eastwood Park (in Gloucestershire) and priority for women from north Wales at HMP/YOI Styal (in Cheshire). The estate review also proposed the refurbishment of 77 mothballed places at HMP/YOI Eastwood Park to further improve capacity for women from Wales. There are places for 12 mothers and 13 babies at HMP/YOI Eastwood Park.
	Following my predecessor's commitment during parliamentary passage of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, I will be providing in March 2014 an update to Parliament on the progress made since the publication of the Government's strategic objectives for female offenders in March 2013.
	The following table shows the number and location of female prisoners with a recorded residential address in Wales, on two separate dates in each year of 2011, 2012 and 2013.
	The estate review also proposed the refurbishment of 77 mothballed places at HMP/YOI Eastwood Park to further improve capacity for women from Wales.
	
		
			 Location of female prisoners in England and Wales with a recorded address in Wales from 2011 to 2013 
			 Female prisoners with recorded addresses in Wales by prison 
			  2011 2012 2012 
			 Prison March September March September March September 
			 Askham Grange 1 2 2 1 1 2 
			 Bronzefield 9 5 4 3 4 7 
			 Downview1 21 21 26 26 29 17 
			 Drake Hall 19 24 13 21 15 26 
			 East Sutton Park 4 5 6 2 3 3 
		
	
	
		
			 Eastwood Park 113 120 129 124 115 139 
			 Foston Hall 7 8 5 6 2 3 
			 Holloway 18 10 4 7 14 3 
			 Low Newton 3 3 2 — 1 1 
			 New Hall 3 1 1 4 3 4 
			 Peterborough (female) 2 2 3 2 4 5 
			 Send 23 24 22 26 26 21 
			 Styal 24 17 27 25 29 32 
			 Grand total 247 242 244 247 246 268 
			 1 In September 2013, as part of a number of capacity changes, the Secretary of State for Justice announced that HMP Downview will be re-roled, i.e. stop holding female prisoners and instead will hold adult male prisoners. There are currently no female prisoners held there. 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible error(s) with data entry and processing.
	If no address is given, an offender's committal court address is used as a proxy for the area in which they are resident. These figures are included in the table in the answer. No address has been recorded and no court information is available for around 3% of all offenders, these figures are excluded from the table in the answer. Information on offenders' residences is provided by them on reception in prison and recorded on a central IT system. Addresses can include a home address, an address to which offenders intend to return on discharge or next of kin address.

Prisoners: Females

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many women prisoners with a registered home address in Wales have applied for a place in a mother and baby unit since 2006; how many have been given a place; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Hughes: The information requested on how many women prisoners who have a registered home address in Wales and have requested a place in a mother and baby unit is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	There are six mother and baby units in England which provide an overall total capacity of 64 places for mothers. There are a total of 70 places for babies to allow for twins.
	The Women’s Custodial Estate Review, published in October 2013, announced the Government’s intention to keep more women from Wales as close to home as possible by giving priority to women from south Wales at HMP/YOI Eastwood Park (in Gloucestershire) and priority for women from north Wales at HMP/YOI Styal (in Cheshire). The estate review also proposed the refurbishment of 77 mothballed places at HMP/YOI Eastwood Park to further improve capacity for women from Wales. There are places for 12 mothers and 13 babies at HMP/YOI Eastwood Park.
	Following my predecessor’s commitment to do so during parliamentary passage of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, I will be providing an update to Parliament on the progress made since the publication of the Government’s strategic objectives for female offenders in March 2013.

Procurement

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what financial targets he plans to set for the successful bidder for the National Compliance and Enforcement Service contract in that contract;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the costs of running the National Compliance and Enforcement Service contract.

Shailesh Vara: The costs and financial targets for the Compliance and Enforcement Services contract will be determined through the commercial process, in negotiation with the bidders.

Procurement

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which of the short-listed bidders for the National Compliance and Enforcement Service contract were involved in his Department's aged debt pilot.

Shailesh Vara: Two of the companies involved in the aged debt pilot are also involved in the commercial process for Compliance and Enforcement Services.

Public Defender Service

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidelines are applied when making a Public Defence Service appointment; and what provision is made for advertising Public Defence Service appointments in Welsh.

Shailesh Vara: Anyone appointed to the Public Defender Service will be employed as a civil servant, and recruited on the basis of the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles.
	These principles determine that selection is made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition:
	Merit means the appointment of the best available person: no one should be appointed to a job unless they are competent to do it, and the job must be offered to the person who would do it best.
	Fair means there is no bias in the assessment of candidates. Selection processes must be objective, impartial and applied consistently.
	Open means that job opportunities must be advertised publicly and potential candidates given reasonable access to information about the job and its requirements, and about the selection process.
	The Commission recognises that in some circumstances it may be right to allow appointments to be made outside of the principle of selection on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Any such exception should not undermine this fundamental principle.
	Such appointments by exception are usually short-term; for example secondments which promote the exchange of ideas and experience.
	For a national recruitment exercise it is our practice to advertise in the English language. When recruiting for vacancies specifically for Wales, these will be advertised bilingually. Notices will be in Welsh in Welsh language publications, if required.

Public Sector: Information

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure that users of public services can access and control personal data held on them by the Government, its agencies and other public bodies.

Simon Hughes: The Government takes the protection of individuals’ personal data very seriously. The Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) confers a number of rights on individuals in respect of the processing of their personal data by organisations. Subject to certain exemptions, section 7 of the DPA gives individuals the right to request a copy of information which an organisation, including Government Departments and their agencies, holds about them. An individual can exercise this right, commonly known as ‘subject access’, by making a written subject access request.
	In exercising this right, an individual is entitled to be told whether any personal data is being processed; given a description of the personal data, the reasons it is being processed and whether it will be given to any other organisations or people; given a copy of the information comprising the data; and given details of the source of the data, where available. In Addition, where an individual believes that any personal data being processed by an organisation is inaccurate, they are entitled to have that information corrected on request.

Reoffenders: Young Offenders

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the proven re-offending rates were for 18 to 20 year olds in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: Reoffending rates for young adults remain stubbornly high. Statistics on proven reoffending for adult and juvenile offenders are published by the Ministry of Justice on a quarterly basis in the 'Proven Re-offending Statistics Quarterly Bulletin' at the following link:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/proven-reoffending-statistics-april-2011-march-2012
	The latest proven reoffending rates for 18 to 20-year-olds in England and Wales can be found in Table 3.

Sentencing: Appeals

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of appeals against unduly lenient sentences in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 were successful; and what the outcomes of the appeals were.

Oliver Heald: The information is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of offenders whose sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal as potentially unduly lenient Number of offenders whose sentences were increased (and proportion of total in brackets) 
			 2010 90 77 (85%) 
			 2011 121 94 (77%) 
			 2012 88 62 (70%) 
			 2013 83 60 (72%) 
		
	
	There is one outstanding case from 2013.

Students: Fees and Charges

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many students were taken to court by universities for recovery of their student fees after dropping out of university courses in each of the last three years.

Shailesh Vara: HMCTS do not record claimant and respondent details on the civil case management system in a way that allows them to identify which were universities or students, nor the reason of a money claim. The only way they could answer this question would be to manually search every case to establish whether the claimant was a university or represented a university and then whether the claim was for the recovery of fees. This would incur disproportionate costs.

Youth Custody

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his latest estimate is of the average annual cost of custody in the secure estate.

Jeremy Wright: The Department routinely publishes average costs per prisoner and prison place, based on actual net resource expenditure for each private and public sector prison and in summary form for the whole of the prison estate in England and Wales on an annual basis after the end of each financial year. The most recently published figures are for financial year 2012-13 which give an average overall cost per place of £36,808 and average overall cost per prisoner of £34,766. This is the latest information available.
	The information for financial year 2012-13 is published as an Addendum to the NOMS Annual Report and Accounts and is available on the Department's website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-and-probation-trusts-performance-statistics-201213
	Continuing to reduce prison unit costs is one of the key targets for the Department. Between 2009-10 and 2012-13 prison unit costs (based on overall prison costs) have reduced in real terms by 16% per place and 13% per prisoner. The Department is committed to delivering prison capacity changes designed to modernise the prison estate and further reduce prison costs.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Crime: Victims

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what conclusions the Crown Prosecution Service has drawn from its September 2013 consultation on the functioning of the victims' right to review.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service has considered the responses received during the public consultation. A summary of the consultation responses and the final Victims' Right to Review Scheme will be published on the CPS website in the near future.

Female Genital Mutilation

Helen Jones: To ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to ensure that more cases of female genital mutilation are prosecuted.

Oliver Heald: The Attorney-General is encouraging the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to take a leading role in tackling female genital mutilation (FGM). They have worked closely with the police, other Government Departments and third sector organisations to put a robust framework in place to support reporting and the effective investigation and prosecution of FGM. The CPS has published actions planned in 2012 and 2013 which have led to much closer joint working between the police and CPS. Lead prosecutors have been appointed for each CPS area and they have led on agreeing protocols with every local police force setting out the arrangements for investigating and prosecuting FGM locally. A joint CPS/police national training event has been recently held to consider case-building strategies, and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and I have written to Ministers in the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Department of Health with a paper identifying possible ways in which the criminal law could be strengthened.
	I have recently visited both the CPS and the Metropolitan police's specialist unit to discuss this issue, and also last month attended the departmental roundtable on FGM, at which I was a signatory to the ministerial declaration.

Internet

Jim Shannon: To ask the Attorney-General what services the Law Officers' Departments provide that are (a) available online only and (b) planned to move to online only.

Oliver Heald: Information on the work of the Law Officers' Departments websites can be found on the Gov.uk website or on their own websites. However, as their work is aimed at providing legal support to the Government or conducting prosecutions on behalf of the Crown, they do not provide any online services directly to the public.

Legal Representation

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on defendants who represent themselves in very high cost cases.

Dominic Grieve: I have regular meetings with the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), to discuss a wide range of topics including issues related to legal costs. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the practice of the Attorney-General's Office to provide details of all such discussions.

Legal Representation

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what estimate has been made of the number of upcoming very high cost prosecutions by the (a) Crown Prosecution Service and (b) Serious Fraud Office that will involve defendants who will be representing themselves.

Oliver Heald: There are currently three prosecutions being managed by the Crown Prosecution Service under the very high cost case arrangements where the prosecution have been informed that the defendants are currently unrepresented, and two such prosecutions being managed by the Serious Fraud Office. It is of course possible that representation will be secured by defendants in these cases in due course.

Sentencing: Appeals

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of the sentences that he successfully referred to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient in 2013 were the result of guilty pleas.

Oliver Heald: Of the 60 sentences that were successfully referred by the Law Officers to the Court of Appeal in 2013, 34 were the result of a guilty plea.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General if he will investigate the extent and appropriateness of the Serious Fraud Office's co-operation with the Iranian authorities in recent years.

Karen Bradley: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Home Department.
	As a matter of long-standing policy and practice the United Kingdom can neither confirm nor deny the extent of judicial cooperation with individual countries. However, the Home Office continuously reviews and looks at ways of improving judicial cooperation with other countries, including co-operation with countries (such as Iran) where the UK has human rights concerns (applying the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) guidance as appropriate). We will continue to review and refine our approach to judicial co-operation, in conjunction with other Government Departments including the SFO.

Taxation: Fraud

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2014, Official Report, columns 466-8W, on taxation: fraud, what the annual sum total was of the confiscation orders listed in that answer.

Oliver Heald: The following table below provides the total value of confiscation orders obtained by the Crown Prosecution Service during the past three financial years, for cases categorised as tax and benefit fraud or VAT fraud.
	
		
			  Number of orders granted Value of orders granted (£) 
			 2010-11 253 84,922,167.59 
			 2011-12 557 69,418,325.78 
			 2012-13 352 48,748,535.72 
		
	
	These data have been taken from the JARD database which reflects the status of the orders reported at the time the data are extracted. As a result, the amounts reported represent the total amounts paid up to the date the data were extracted, not the amounts paid in any given year. Payment data include payments made to satisfy the both original order amount as well as any interest accrued on the original order amount.

Sentencing: Appeals

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Attorney-General how many appeals there have been against unduly lenient sentences of those sentenced in each year since 2010.

Oliver Heald: The information is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of offenders whose sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal as potentially unduly lenient Number of offenders whose sentences were increased (and proportion of total in brackets) 
			 2010 90 77 (85%) 
			 2011 121 94 (77%) 
			 2012 88 62 (70%) 
			 2013 83 60 (72%) 
		
	
	There is one outstanding case from 2013.